Real Madrid News
Real Madrid to promote 19-year-old Castilla starlet to first team for the rest of the season
Just when it seemed like Real Madrid had come out of their left-back crisis with Ferland Mendy returning to fitness, the Frenchman suffered a new blow and is out for the season.
That, coupled with the season-ending injury to David Alaba, means that Real Madrid are with only Fran Garcia as the available left-back until the end of the season.
The development is a worrying one for Carlo Ancelotti, especially considering that there is serious pressure to do well in both La Liga and the FIFA Club World Cup.
An option from the academy
As relayed by AS in a recent report, the Castilla team’s Youssef Enriquez Lekhedim, fondly called ‘Yusi’, is the favourite to act as Real Madrid’s backup left-back and will travel with the team for the remainder of the season.
The youngster is no stranger to training under Carlo Ancelotti’s orders and has even travelled with the team to the FIFA Intercontinental Cup, one La Liga game and a UCL clash earlier this season.
Ancelotti sees him as a promising option to ply his trade for the first team and has kept him in the loop of the senior training dynamics in recent days. A debut in the coming weeks cannot be ruled out.
Yusi joined Real Madrid’s academy in 2017 and has rapidly ascended the ranks ever since. He stands out as one of the team’s top left-back prospects and he will look to tread the same path Raul Asencio embarked on earlier this season.
So far this term, Yusi has played all of Real Madrid Castilla’s games in the Primera RFEF barring one and has one goal and four assists to his name.
The youngster will look forward to stamping his authority on the chances he receives, but he must first leave a mark in training.
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid superstar returns from the break in top form after stellar displays with national team
Jude Bellingham has been undisputedly one of the star performers in the UEFA Nations League so far, in this international break.
Bellingham started with a valiant effort in the defeat to Spain, before starring in the 7-0 win over Croatia. Last night, he was on fire once again, helping England secure a 3-0 victory over Czechia.
As club football resumes this weekend, it is fair to say that Bellingham will be one of the most in-form players at Real Madrid.
Bellingham on fire
Bellingham’s spectacular form has continued throughout the international break, with the midfielder registering one goal and four assists in four matches for England.
The standout display came against Croatia, where he produced a goal and three assists in the emphatic 7-0 win.
He made England history with that four-goal contribution, creating five chances and completing four dribbles while boasting a 100 percent pass accuracy.
Against Spain, he was comfortably England’s best player, assisting Anthony Gordon’s opener and leading the attacks.
In the final game against the Czech Republic, it was Harry Kane who stole the show with a brace on his record-equalling 125th cap, but Bellingham once again started as an undisputed figure in Tuchel’s side.
The Englishman has shown no signs of his form being a mirage, having rediscovered his best since being handed a free attacking role.
A key figure for Real Madrid
Bellingham’s resurgence is a hugely positive sign for Real Madrid, who have struggled for consistency this season.
Operating as a number 10 with freedom to roam, the 22-year-old has already scored three goals for the club, making him the second-highest scorer behind Kylian Mbappe, while also leading the team for assists.
His current scoring rate of one every 206 minutes is not far off his brilliant debut campaign.
That form has drawn widespread praise, with Roy Keane tipping him to become one of the greatest of all time, while Jermaine Defoe backed him to become England’s next captain.
For Jose Mourinho, having Bellingham firing on all cylinders is a massive boost. With a demanding run of fixtures ahead, including El Clasico, the Englishman’s leadership and quality could prove decisive as Real Madrid look to close the gap on Barcelona.
