Real Madrid News
Real Madrid quartet included in Spain’s provisional squad list for Euro qualifiers – report
With the first international break of 2023 just a couple of weeks away, national team coaches are planning to announce their squads for the same, or in some cases, have already named the players they have called up.
It will also mark the start of a new era for the Spanish national team as Luis de la Fuente will take charge of the team for the first time.
The 61-year-old was handed the reins of La Roja after Luis Enrique vacated the position following a dismal run at the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar.
De la Fuente will be naming his first squad as Spain boss in a few days and according to Arancha Rodriguez of COPE, Real Madrid quartet Marco Asensio, Dani Carvajal, Dani Ceballos, and Nacho Fernandez are all on the manager’s provisional squad list.
Spain will face Norway in their first UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying campaign on March 25 before facing Scotland three days later on March 28.
And, as per the report, the aforementioned quartet of Asensio, Carvajal, Ceballos and Nacho could all be on the list for the matches.
Asensio and Carvajal had been regulars in the previous regime under Enrique, who had not been as favourable to Ceballos and Nacho.
While the former had struggled with injuries last season, Enrique’s treatment of Nacho had been questioned by some sections.
But, it seems like the veteran defender, who has been doing well this season at Real Madrid, could be given a fresh chance by De la Fuente in the upcoming set of fixtures.
Ceballos’ potential inclusion will also be deserved as he has been in fine form since the World Cup break. What works in the midfielder’s favour is that De la Fuente knows him very well, with the pair working together at the youth levels for the Spanish national team.
According to a report from journalist Jorge C Picon, former Tottenham Hotspur and PSG boss Mauricio Pochettino is in pole position to become the next manager of Real Madrid, if Carlo Ancelotti leaves at the end of the season.
Ancelotti’s topic has become a topic of much debate and discussion over the past few weeks. The Italian tactician has a contract that runs until next year and has stated that he wishes to see it out.
However, the team’s failure to win any major title this season could end up spelling trouble or the 63-year-old. The La Liga title looks like a lost cause already while Real Madrid are in a disadvantageous position in Copa del Rey as well.
The UEFA Champions League remains Ancelotti’s best bet to win a trophy this season. Should he do so, the Italian could continue at Real Madrid or even possibly sign a new contract extension.
But, failure to land the trophy could end his second stint at the Santiago Bernabeu and Pochettino is said to be the frontrunner for the position in that case.
The Argentine is currently unemployed after being sacked by PSG in July last year. The 51-year-old did not have the most memorable of stints in Paris but his stock has not diminished in the Real Madrid offices, who had considered appointing him once before as well.
Thomas Tuchel was also a candidate for Real Madrid and talks were also held with him. But, the club informed him that if Ancelotti won the UCL, he would stay on, which played a part in the German signing for Bayern Munich.
Meanwhile, club legend Raul Gonzalez, who is currently the manager of Real Madrid Castilla, is also a candidate, but is seen only as Plan B, with Pochettino very much the frontrunner at this point.
A lot will depend on how the rest of the season pans out and whether Ancelotti is able to lead Real Madrid to back-to-back Champions League triumphs.
