Real Madrid News
Real Madrid turn down Ancelotti’s request to sign €18 million-rated Spanish defender
Real Madrid’s management has recently turned down Carlo Ancelotti’s request to sign Aymeric Laporte from Al-Nassr, according to a report from Real Madrid Confidencial.
It is said that the club is already preparing for potential signings in the 2025 summer transfer windows, but the decision has been made not to make any moves in January.
While rumours continue to circulate about possible new players, Real Madrid’s current focus is on resolving existing squad issues rather than making any hasty transfers.
Ancelotti’s request rejected
Ancelotti has long been a fan of Laporte, the Spanish centre-back, and has even requested his addition to the team. However, the club’s management has declined this request for two main reasons.
Firstly, Laporte does not fit the specific profile of the player they are currently seeking in the market.
Secondly, the high transfer fee demanded by Al-Nassr has made the move financially unappealing for Real Madrid, especially considering the club’s focus on long-term investments.
Perez has made the decision
Florentino Perez has made it clear that the club will only pursue Laporte if he becomes available as a free agent. This shift in approach has also influenced Al-Nassr’s decision-making, with their coach, Stefano Pioli, intervening in the matter.
Pioli has instructed the Saudi club to reject any offers for Laporte, emphasising the defender’s crucial role in their defensive lineup.
As a result, it appears that Laporte is not going anywhere for now, as Pioli has made it clear that the player is vital to their plans.
With this in mind, it is increasingly apparent that Real Madrid’s executives are looking for players who can offer both immediate quality and long-term value.
While Ancelotti’s calls for defensive reinforcements remain strong, it seems likely that these discussions will be pushed back until the summer transfer window.
*Player valuation in title obtained from transfermarkt.com on the date of publication.
Real Madrid News
Mourinho reacts to Vinicius suspension: “Why announce it two hours before an important match?”
Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has questioned the RFEF Disciplinary Committee’s decision to announce Vinicius Jr.’s four-match suspension just hours before their UEFA Champions League meeting with AS Roma on Wednesday.
The Brazilian has been hit with a four-match ban for his red card against Villarreal, meaning he will miss the matches against Sevilla, Barcelona, Racing Santander, and Valencia.
And, speaking to Movistar+ (h/t MARCA) before the match, the Real Madrid manager was asked whether the punishment could affect the Brazilian psychologically.
Mourinho instead turned his attention to the football authorities and the timing of their announcement.
“I think that is a question for the Committee. Why have they announced the suspension at this particular moment? If you are asking me this question, it is presumably because you think it could affect him,” the Portuguese coach replied.
“You should ask the Committee why they did not announce it this morning, or tomorrow morning. Why do they do it two hours before a match that is important for Real Madrid, which is a Spanish club?” he added, questioning the timing of the decision.
Mourinho explains his tactical approach against Roma
The Real Madrid manager also outlined his plan for facing a Roma side known for their aggressive pressing.
“My intention is to stop them from pressing us so high up the pitch, given the players we have available and as a precaution,” he said.
Continuing, the Portuguese manager added: “They press man-to-man higher up the pitch better than anyone else, and we will see whether we can take advantage of that. If not, they will have to drop their press five or ten metres.”
Why Rudiger over Huijsen
Mourinho also justified his decision to start Antonio Rudiger at centre-back alongside Ibrahima Konate rather than Dean Huijsen.
“They played very well together in the last match, Rudiger and Konate, showing great leadership and the ability to withstand a difficult situation when we had ten men for 30 minutes,” he said.
“I am not saying Dean is not capable of playing a match like this, but this is a wonderful atmosphere for Roma and a difficult one for us. I think a player with Antonio’s experience can be important,” Mourinho added.
Finally, Mourinho was asked about his emotions ahead of returning to face Roma, the club he managed between 2021 and 2024.
The Portuguese coach offered a brief response, saying that he had his feelings about the occasion “blocked”.
