Real Madrid News
Real Madrid new signing elated after impressive debut vs Schalke – “The wait felt long”
Real Madrid wrapped up their pre-season campaign with a 3-0 win over FC Schalke at the iconic Veltins Arena. It was the final friendly for Jose Mourinho’s men, which gave the Real Madrid coach the opportunity to try out some of his newer signings.
This included Marc Cucurella, who made his unofficial debut for the club after joining from Chelsea in a big-money deal earlier in the summer.
Speaking to RMTV after the match, Cucurella was delighted with his debut and spoke fondly about his new teammates.
Cucurella reacts after Schalke win
The Spaniard was thrilled to finally pull on the Real Madrid shirt, admitting the build-up to his first appearance had felt like a lengthy one.
“Very happy. It was a great game from everyone. Great result. I’m really looking forward to it. The wait felt long,” he said (h/t Diario AS).
He also revealed how comfortable he felt on the pitch, crediting the quality of those around him. “I felt very good. Easy with these teammates,” he added.
Cucurella went on to reflect on a summer of hard work, insisting the effort had all been worthwhile now that he is finally a Real Madrid player.
“Very happy. There’s a lot of hard work behind all this. Every effort has been worth it. Keep it up,” he said.
The full-back was equally glowing about how welcoming the squad had been, describing a tight-knit group that made his transition seamless.
“The colleagues are very nice people. They make the arrival easy for everyone. A close-knit group,” Cucurella added.
Focused on silverware
Finally, Cucurella thanked the supporters for their backing and made clear his ambitions, stressing that winning trophies is his ultimate priority.
“I’ve received many messages. I’ll give my all. The most important thing is to win titles,” he concluded.
It was a promising afternoon all round for Mourinho’s side, who eased to victory through goals from Kylian Mbappe, Dean Huijsen and Carlos Espi.
With the pre-season now complete, attention turns to the LaLiga opener against Espanyol on August 22, as Real Madrid look to hit the ground running in their bid to reclaim domestic supremacy.
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid defender might not return in time for El Clasico as club will take no risks
Real Madrid defensive ace Eder Militao appears to have put his injury nightmare behind him.
The Brazilian centre-back has recovered from the torn left hamstring he suffered from last season and has now spent almost a week training normally alongside his teammates during the ongoing international break.
The signs so far are positive, but the club are fully aware of the priority at this stage: not making the mistake of rushing him back and risking a relapse.
As such, according to a report from Bernabeu Digital, doubts remain over whether Militao will be ready in time for Real Madrid’s La Liga clash against FC Barcelona later this month.
A cautious return
Injuries have become a recurring problem for Militao over the past three years, and the aim is to prevent that cycle from continuing.
After all, he has spent more than 700 days out of action for the Spanish capital club in the past three seasons, giving raise to concerns over his physical condition.
Jose Mourinho has been particularly cautious with players returning from injury, and the Brazilian’s situation requires even greater care for these reasons.
Everyone at the club is encouraging him to take his time, meaning his return to competitive football will have to wait.
Militao has identified the Clasico as one of his main targets. His return to full training represents an important step, but there is still work to do before he can consider making his competitive comeback.
Defensive problems against Villarreal
However, Militao’s absence is not the only issue affecting the Real Madrid defence, as the team will return from the international break with serious problems.
Alongside the Brazilian, Los Blancos will be without Raul Asencio, who has undergone surgery and will not return until 2027.
Meanwhile, Ibrahima Konate is still recovering from the sprain he sustained while away with the France national team, while Dean Huijsen must serve a one-match suspension following his red card in the derby.
As such, for Real Madrid’s first match after the international window, the only fully available centre-back is Antonio Rudiger.
