Real Madrid News
Real Madrid target disapponted at his current club, counting down days for summer switch
Real Madrid are set to take to the field for their second game of the FIFA Club World Cup later tonight and all signs point to Xabi Alonso counting on both new signings – Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen once more.
While both the new arrivals are expected to start, Real Madrid could have had another new name in the lineup had matters progressed slightly differently in the Alvaro Carreras’ case.
After all, Benfica slowed down negotiations after agreeing on the terms of a transfer only to keep the player for the ongoing event and refuse a shift to the Spanish capital before it.
Carreras’ wait continues
As relayed by Abolha (h/t RM4Arab) in a recent report, though, the young left-back was hoping to complete his move to Real Madrid before the Club World Cup and was really disappointed when matters did not work out.
After all, he is a product of Real Madrid’s academy and it is one of his lifelong dreams to return home and make it big at the biggest club in the world.
Carreras is counting down his days as a Benfica player as the days roll by and is eagerly awaiting the much-anticipated transfer to Real Madrid which is expected to go through after the end of the current tournament.
Having seen a yellow card once more in Benfica’s latest clash, the player will miss Benfica’s most crucial group stage game against Bayern Munich next week in what comes as a huge blow to Bruno Lage’s side.
Needless to say, he may well have played his final game for the Portuguese giants for there is a good chance they are eliminated in the group stages after match-day three.
Only salvaging points against the mighty Bayern Munich can guarantee them a place in the knockouts.
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.
