Real Madrid News
Real Madrid superstar will sign a contract renewal until 2024
With the summer transfer window only a few months away, Real Madrid will have to start addressing the contract situations of several important players whose current deals expire in June.
Toni Kroos and Nacho Fernandez are expected to make a decision on whether they sign a new deal or not in the coming weeks, while Luka Modric is quite relaxed about the situation.
Dani Ceballos and Marco Asensio could be handed new deals, although their continuity would likely depend on the roles they are offered in Carlo Ancelotti’s plans. Meanwhile, Mariano Diaz is certain to leave as a free agent.
That leaves Karim Benzema as the final player on the list of Real Madrid stars whose contracts expire in the summer. And, according to MARCA, the Merengues’ captain will sign a new deal with the club until the summer of 2024.
The 35-year-old hitman enjoyed a spectacular 2021/22 campaign which led to him winning the Ballon d’Or last year. However, injuries have threatened to play spoilsport in his current season, with the striker missing a good chunk of matches for Los Blancos.
Despite that, Benzema, when fit, has been invaluable for Real Madrid, as was evident in their recent 5-2 trouncing of Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League.
In 24 matches this term, the Frenchman has netted 18 goals and set up five more. When he scored against Liverpool on Tuesday, he became the first-ever Real Madrid player to score a goal in as many as six competitions in a single season.
On top of that, Benzema also became the only player along with Lionel Messi to find the back of the net in 18 consecutive seasons in the UEFA Champions League.
It is pretty clear that despite his advancing age and recent fitness issues, Benzema continues to stand out as a top player and remains key for Real Madrid.
So, a new contract for one more year would be the right way to go about things for the Spanish giants. And, as per the report, Benzema is likely to renew until the summer of 2024 initially.
With plans to rope in a backup for him in the summer, it could Benzema stay at Real Madrid beyond next year as well.
Real Madrid return to La Liga action against Rayo Vallecano with little room for another slip-up, and their opponents could be without several important players at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Los Blancos arrive after opening their Champions League campaign with a 2–1 victory over Inter Milan.
Their domestic situation is less comfortable, though, after the defeat to Real Betis left them trailing Barcelona at the top of the table.
With Barça already putting together an impressive run, Real Madrid cannot afford to drop more points this early in the season.
Jose Mourinho will be looking for an immediate response when Rayo visit the capital.
The visitors, meanwhile, are dealing with a growing list of absentees.
Rayo Vallecano lose another forward
According to Mundo Deportivo, Rayo Vallecano will be without several players for the trip to Madrid, with Randy Nteka the latest addition to the injury list.
The Angolan striker suffered a muscle strain during training this week and is now expected to miss the match.
Rayo were already preparing for the game without Isi Palazon, who is recovering from a muscle injury. Goalkeeper Augusto Batalla is also unavailable after undergoing surgery for a fracture to his right tibia.
The absences do not end there. Fran Perez and Jorge de Frutos will both sit out after receiving red cards in Rayo’s previous league fixture.
Rayo manager Benat San Jose therefore faces some difficult selection decisions against a Real Madrid side that will be eager to build on its European victory.
More to the story
As per the outlet, there is also uncertainty surrounding Ivan Balliu.
The Albanian right-back picked up a heavy challenge in Rayo’s last match and his ankle is now badly bruised. San Jose has not ruled him out, but the defender faces a race against time to be fit.
“His ankle is badly bruised, but he’s a tough one and is doing everything he can to be fit.”
Real Madrid cannot afford another La Liga setback
For Real Madrid, the Champions League victory over Inter provided a positive response after the Betis defeat, but domestic consistency is now the priority.
Barcelona’s early form has already created pressure at the top of the table, making every dropped point more costly.
Rayo’s depleted squad should make life more difficult for San Jose, although Real Madrid still have to turn that advantage into three points.
