Real Madrid News
Real Madrid see 18-year-old gem as one of the most likely academy players to reach the first team
Real Madrid new manager Xabi Alonso announced the squad for the FIFA Club World Cup earlier this week with as many as ten academy players named.
Indeed, young talents like Fran Gonzalez, Sergi Mestre, Jacobo Ramon, Yusi, Diego Aguado, Jesus Fortea, Chema Andres, Mario Martin, Gonzalo Garcia, and Victor Munoz have all been called up for the tournament in the USA.
Diego Aguado rated highly at Real Madrid
While not everyone is expected to get a chance at the Club World Cup starting this week, all the young players called up are rated highly at Real Madrid.
However, according to Guillermo Rai of The Athletic, Real Madrid consider young Diego Aguado to be one of the academy players who has the best chance of making it to the first team in the near future.
Aguado, 18, is a versatile defender capable of playing at centre-back or left-back. Those behind the scenes at Valdebebas describe him as a very good passer and an able reader of the game.
Given Ferland Mendy’s injury, Fran Garcia is the only senior left-back available for the Club World Cup and as such, the youngster along with fellow teenager Yusi, has a good chance of featuring in the tournament.
Aguado, as has already been reported, is attracting interest from Borussia Dortmund, who are offering €6 million for his signing.
It remains to be seen what the teenage gem decides with regard to his future, but if he stays at Real Madrid, it is expected that Aguado will spend another year with the Castilla team to further polish his game before a first-team breakthrough materialises.
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid eye €40 millon-rated goalkeeper as potential Thibaut Courtois replacement
Real Madrid boast one of the best goalkeepers in world football in the form of Thibaut Courtois.
However, the Belgian is already 34 and his current contract at the club expires at the end of the season.
Although Real Madrid are keen on extending his contract, they are preparing for the possibility of life beyond the veteran goalkeeper as well.
Keeping that in mind, Real Madrid are already keeping tabs on the market and monitoring potential replacements, with Diogo Costa emerging as one of the options.
Real Madrid interested in Diogo Costa
As reported by Bernabeu Digital, Costa is among the goalkeepers Real Madrid are interested in, as they look for potential replacements for Courtois.
The Portuguese international is regarded highly and has been endorsed personally by the club’s new goalkeeping coach, Nuno Santos.
Jose Mourinho is also said to be playing a key role in driving the club’s interest in Costa, who currently plies his trade for FC Porto.
At age of just 26, Costa has established himself as the firm number one for the Portugal national team, having already won almost 50 caps.
€40 million for Costa?
Acquiring the services of Diogo Costa, though, won’t be a walk in the park for Real Madrid.
The Portuguese international is valued at around €40 million, which the club might see as steep.
But given the experience and the quality Costa offers, Real Madrid do indeed see him as the ideal candidate to replace Courtois, if necessary.
Given that he is also liked by Mourinho and Santos, there is no reason why Real Madrid will be against paying that premium for the goalkeeper, especially if Courtois ends up leaving the club.
Real Madrid, though, are also open to finding an in-house replacement for Courtois, with Javi Navarro, in particular, making a lot of waves in the lower divisions.
That being said, everything indicates Courtois will sign a new contract so there shouldn’t be any immediate need for a replacement.
