Real Madrid News
Real Madrid set sights on €81.6 million Serie A striker
According to ESPN, Real Madrid have set their sights on a possible move for Juventus and Serbia striker Dusan Vlahovic as they look for attacking reinforcements.
Real Madrid went into the 2022/23 campaign with just Karim Benzema and Mariano Diaz as their two natural centre-forwards, having parted ways with the likes of Luka Jovic, Borja Mayoral, and Juanmi Latasa.
With Benzema struggling with injuries this term, Los Blancos’ decision to not sign a new striker after missing out on Kylian Mbappe has come back to haunt them.
Furthermore, Benzema is 35 and has his contract expiring this summer. While it is believed that he has already signed a one-year deal, the Frenchman will still be 36 in ten months’ time and will eventually need to be replaced.
Endrick has been signed from Palmeiras, but he will only arrive in the summer of 2024. Hence, Los Blancos intend to sign a new forward to reinforce their attacking unit ahead of the next season.
And, ESPN is reporting that Dusan Vlahovic has emerged as an option for the reigning champions of Spain and Europe.
The Serbian completed a massive €81 million move to Juventus in January last year from Fiorentina, but has failed to make the kind of splash expected of him.
It has not helped the forward that the Bianconeri are going through a period of unstability from top to bottom within the club.
The fact that they were docked 15 points in Serie A this season due to financial irregularities means that a Champions League berth might not be possible next term, which could lead to an exodus of players.
Real Madrid have thus set their sights on Vlahovic, having received good reports on the Serbian international from his time in Fiorentina.
The 23-year-old has scored nine goals and set up three more in 19 appearances this season and has netted ten times in 19 games for the Serbian national team.
Vlahovic is contracted with Juventus until 2026. However, he is not the only option on Real Madrid’s radar, with the Merengues also keeping tabs on Richarlison of Tottenham Hotspur – a player that Carlo Ancelotti is familiar with from his time at Everton.
Real Madrid News
Rayo Vallecano manager names the one Real Madrid figure he would remove from the team
Rayo Vallecano face a daunting trip to the Santiago Bernabeu to take on a wounded Real Madrid this weekend.
Life after Inigo Perez has not been kind to the Vallecas-based club, who have already had to travel to Camp Nou and now face a trip to the home of their city giants.
Speaking ahead of the game (h/t Madrid Xtra), Rayo Vallecano manager Benat San Jose was asked which Real Madrid player he would like to remove from the team before this weekend’s game.
Surprisingly, his choice was not Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior or Thibaut Courtois.
“Mourinho”
Asked which Madrid player he would take out of the upcoming contest, Benat jokingly chose the man sitting on the opposition bench.
“Which Real Madrid player I’d remove from the match against them? Mourinho,” Benat said with a laugh.
The answer might have been delivered jokingly, but the Rayo coach immediately made clear just how highly he rates the Portuguese manager.
“He’s one of the best managers in history,” he added.
It is significant praise ahead of Saturday’s meeting at the Bernabeu.
Madrid’s squad contains enough individual quality to give any opposition coach several obvious answers, but Benat instead highlighted the influence Mourinho can have over the entire team.
That has become particularly relevant since the Portuguese coach returned to Madrid. His early work has focused on making a talented group function with greater collective discipline.
Courtois and Madrid’s attack also praised
Benat did not stop with the manager.
“They also have one of the best GKs in history and one of the best attackers in history,” he said.
Benat will definitely have seen how Thibaut Courtois played against Inter Milan in midweek and will hope that version does not turn up again this weekend.
Even when teams manage to create opportunities against Madrid, they still have to beat one of the defining goalkeepers of his generation.
At the opposite end, Madrid possess attacking quality capable of turning a match on its head.
The likes of Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham can all decide matches single-handedly.
Madrid have a point to prove
Madrid are coming off a disappointing loss to Real Betis in La Liga last weekend and will come into this game with a point to prove.
They will want to ensure that the loss to the Andalusian club was a one-off and that they return to winning ways against Rayo.
Their title rivals, Barça, have been flying high in the league, scoring goals and picking opponents apart for fun.
Madrid need to ensure that they do not hand too much early incentive to Barça, and it remains to be seen how Los Blancos fare against Rayo Vallecano.
