Real Madrid News
Real Madrid trio set to miss La Liga clash against Villarreal – report
According to journalist Sergio Quirante, veteran defender Dani Carvajal trained alone ahead of Real Madrid’s away game against Villarreal, meaning that he is most likely to miss the second encounter of the new year.
This means that the usual suspect, Lucas Vazquez, will keep his place at the right-back. On top of that, 29-year-old forward Mariano Diaz and 27-year-old right-back Alvaro Odriozola are also set to miss out on the contest.
While Diaz is still recovering from an ankle injury, Odriozola was forced off after being injured against Cacereno. Meanwhile, Carvajal is dealing with overload in his soleus muscle.
The veteran Spaniard did some work in the gym and trained by himself on the pitch earlier today where as both Mariano and Odriozola were both limited to sessions in the indoor facilities.
Carvajal, Mariano and Odriozola are the only casualties Real Madrid have for the Villarreal game as of today. On the other hand, those who missed out against Cacereno trained normally and is expected to return to the side against Villarreal.
The likes of Luka Modric, Karim Benzema, Toni Kroos, Vinicius Jr, Ferland Mendy, and David Alaba who were all rested for the trip to Cacereno, should also make a comeback into the squad for the visit to Villarreal this weekend.
Real Madrid are currently second in the La Liga table, level on points with Barcelona but behind on goal difference. With the Catalans facing Atletico Madrid on Sunday, Carlo Ancelotti’s men have an excellent chance to move atop the standings with a win.
Although Antonio Rudiger has had success since joining Real Madrid last summer, the club are in need of more depth and players that can form the backbone of the defensive unit in the years to come.
As part of their plans, Real Madrid are prioritising a move for Josko Gvardiol in the coming summer, reports 90 Min.
The outlet suggests Gvardiol will be one of the most wanted prospects in the market, with both Real Madrid and Manchester City eyeing a move for the Croatian international come the end of the season.
Formerly of Dinamo Zagreb, Gvardiol has enjoyed immense success since his move to the Bundesliga in 2021. He has impressed onlookers with his skill, organisation and discipline, which, coupled with his versatility, make him an appealing target for any European giant.
Gvardiol was also one of the top performers at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, helping Croatia finish third in the competition. His performances have not gone unnoticed, with Real Madrid among the clubs who have been keeping an eye on the defender for a while now.
However, signing Gvardiol will be a tricky task for Los Blancos. The player still has a long-term contract at Leipzig and could cost up to €85 million, as reported by 90 Min. Not to mention, the competition from Man City could be significant.
Real Madrid have no shortage of alternatives, though, with the club notably closely monitoring Portuguese defensive whizkid Antonio Silva, among others. So it will be interesting to see how the Spanish giants approach the market in this coming summer.
