Real Madrid News
Real Madrid set an €8 million price tag for 24-year-old first-team star
According to MARCA, Real Madrid have slapped a price tag of €8 million against Andriy Lunin’s name.
The Ukrainian goalkeeper’s future has been in doubt for a while now, but it is clear that Los Blancos aim to recoup some compensation from his departure.
A confirmed departure, but when?
The shot-stopper has been staring at the exit door for a while now, albeit with two serious options to choose from.
Lunin is in the final year of his contract and there is no renewal in sight. The player, for his part, is willing to see out his contract with Los Blancos before leaving as a free agent next summer.
However, an immediate exit is still an option and the Merengues hope to push for the same. In any case, their decision to put a price tag of €8 million may not fare well with potential suitors.
Starved for game time
Lunin has found it difficult to see game time at Real Madrid since his arrival.
With Thibaut Courtois rooted in the starting lineup, it is seemingly impossible for him to push for a place on the field.
The 24-year-old goalkeeper made just seven La Liga appearances for the first team last season but conceded as many goals, while averaging 1.7 saves per game and overseeing three clean sheets in that duration.
With his Belgian counterpart facing fitness troubles, Lunin played 90 minutes against both AC Milan and Manchester United in the ongoing pre-season tour. With Courtois back in action, his prominence will see an inevitable fall.
Is a replacement signing needed?
Courtois’ fitness has been relatively uncertain in recent times. The veteran goalkeeper is the best in the business but inevitably finds himself injured sporadically through the season.
On that front, it seems necessary that Los Blancos maintain a solid backup option.
And if Lunin is to leave, Real Madrid could thus reactivate the option of signing David Soria from Getafe or move for a different goalkeeper with experience under his belt.
In a major update, AS reports that former Real Madrid midfielder and club legend Toni Kroos has taken his first step towards starting his coaching career.
The former Germany international has told the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) that he is interested in joining the coaching course reserved for professional footballers.
Real Madrid tried to bring Kroos back
It is no secret that Real Madrid considered bringing Toni Kroos back into the club’s structure after the end of the last season.
The club president, Florentino Perez, had wanted Kroos to have a daily presence at Valdebebas rather than making occasional appearances after his retirement.
Jose Angel Sanchez and Kroos spoke after Perez expressed his desire to see the German working at Valdebebas every day. However, they did not find the right moment, time or structure to give his return a clear form.
A comeback remains one of the possibilities most desired by Madrid supporters because of Kroos’ charisma and what he represents at the Santiago Bernabeu. Neither side wanted him to return simply for the sake of it, so the door remains open for the future.
The relationship between the two parties is excellent, and both know that the opportunity to work together again will eventually come.
Taking it step by step
For now, Kroos continues to run the academy he established in Boadilla, enjoying the opportunity to help develop younger players.
After two years away from the competitive side of football, however, he is beginning to look towards the dugout as a possible next step in his career.
Kroos currently holds coaching qualifications that allow him to work up to the third tier of Spanish football.
This is possible because professionals with at least seven years of proven experience and significant involvement at the elite level can gain direct access to accelerated coaching courses.
That means Kroos could coach a team in Primera Federacion, but the German wants to take things gradually.
Kroos has already informed the RFEF that he would be interested in joining the coaching course reserved for professional footballers during the 2027/28 season.
The course taking place this season is not available to elite former players, with UEFA limiting each campaign to 20 places.
With his current qualifications, Kroos could work as an assistant coach, but he cannot yet take charge as a head coach in either the top flight or the Segunda División.
But completing that programme would allow Kroos to obtain the UEFA A licence, which would enable him to coach teams at any level.
