Real Madrid News
Real Madrid superstar’s inclusion in squad vs Villarreal shocks national team manager
Kylian Mbappe’s inclusion in the Real Madrid squad list to face Villarreal has seemingly not gone too well with French national team coach, Didier Deschamps.
According to L’Equipe, Deschamps and his staff expressed their disapproval and shock over the decision to include Mbappe in the Villarreal game.
Deschamps puzzled by Mbappe’s selection
Deschamps opted to leave Mbappe out of France’s squad for the upcoming October international break, citing the player’s recovery from a left thigh injury sustained against Alaves on September 24 as the reason for his exclusion.
Even though the French captain made his comeback against Lille this week, all parties, including Real Madrid, the player, and Deschamps, were in agreement that Mbappe was not fully fit to participate in international duty.
Deschamps, however, is puzzled by Mbappe’s sudden readiness to play for his club, as it contradicts the longstanding tradition that a player available for club selection is usually also ready for national team duty.
This is especially significant given Mbappe’s role as captain of Les Bleus. Deschamps has always relied on his captain to lead by example, and the decision to prioritize club football over international duty has not been received well within the French camp.
Mbappe’s inclusion, therefore, has raised serious questions over his commitment to the nation.
Despite all of this confusion, Real Madrid remain focused on ensuring Mbappe’s full recovery, after all, he did not look at his full fitness against Lille.
Whether or not he starts or even participates in this game will be something worth keeping an eye on.
Real Madrid prospect Alexis Ciria will have to wait for his Champions League opportunity despite making a strong impression on Jose Mourinho during pre-season.
The Castilla winger has been left out of Real Madrid’s European squad, but the decision is the consequence of UEFA registration rules rather than a sporting judgment.
According to journalist Arancha Rodriguez (h/t Defensa Central), Ciria was not eligible for Madrid’s List B because he has not been with the club long enough to satisfy UEFA’s requirements.
Registering him would therefore have required Mourinho to include him on the more restrictive List A.
UEFA rules work against Ciria
List B provides clubs with additional flexibility to register young academy players, but being young enough is not sufficient on its own.
Players must also meet requirements concerning how long they have been eligible to represent the club.
Ciria does not meet those conditions because of his limited time at Valdebebas. Real Madrid would therefore have needed to sacrifice a List A position to register him.
With those places required for members of Mourinho’s senior squad, Ciria was ultimately left out.
Real Madrid’s List B instead includes youngsters such as Joan Martinez, Mario Rivas, Thiago Pitarch, Jorge Cestero and Daniel Yanez.
Many of these youngsters made a name for themselves under Mourinho during pre-season and could be used to make up the numbers in the Champions League squad.
They could also get some minutes off the bench, especially against relatively easier opposition, as Jose Mourinho looks to manage first-team minutes.
Mourinho still plans first-team opportunity
Importantly for Ciria, missing the Champions League squad does not appear to reflect a change in Mourinho’s opinion of him.
The youngster impressed during pre-season and is expected to continue spending time around the senior team.
Mourinho intends to give Ciria his official first-team debut during the season. That opportunity will now have to arrive in La Liga or the Copa del Rey.
The Portuguese tactician placed a lot of emphasis on trusting Castilla players during pre-season in the absence of first-team stars.
Ciria was one of the many names who made a name for themselves at Real Madrid during pre-season. He deserves a chance in the first team, and it remains to be seen how Jose plans his development.
