Real Madrid News
Real Madrid veteran looking forward to Barcelona clash in US: “Clásico is never a friendly”
In an extensive interview with Real Madrid’s media channels, veteran midfielder Toni Kroos has pressed on the importance of the pre-season tour, saying that these tours are always hard as it more or less sets the tone for the season.
The midfielder also stated that facing Barcelona in the pre-season El Clasico will be exciting, stating that a game against the Catalans is never a friendly encounter.
Real Madrid will take on Barcelona on July 29 and when asked about the fixture, the 33-year-old, he said:
“It’s a special game and in a special stadium, it’s what the game deserves. This is probably one of the games that is not friendly. I think that a Clásico against Barcelona is never a friendly.
“This type of game will help us get into rhythm, it will be our third meeting for us there. And I think we will improve every game.
“The team will have already had two games to get back together after the summer and it is always important to recover the feeling of playing together. And I hope that against Barcelona we are at that point.
“I hope we can play good football, a good match for our fans there, and win because against Barcelona it’s never a friendly.”
The midfielder also said that going to the United States is always a special feeling. In the span of two weeks, the record European champions will play as many as four games against AC Milan, Manchester United, Juventus, and Barcelona.
Speaking about the tour, the 33-year-old said, “It is special to travel to the United States because it is the only opportunity for us to play there during the year.
“We always want to go there in the summer and see our fans, who are many. Every year we see the enthusiasm with which they receive us and seeing four cities with four games is very good.”
He went on to explain the gravity of these games, saying, “Pre-season is always hard work because you try to get the bases that will help you throughout the season or that should.
“It’s what we do. We continue working with and without the ball, which is more or less the same every year. There isn’t that much time because we have these nine days here and then we start with the preparation games.”
Kroos, who will look to try new combinations along with new signings Jude Bellingham and Arda Guler, said that these games are really important for the team to pick the rhythm.
“There are four games ahead and the games mean you don’t have as much time to train as hard. The games are important to pick up the rhythm, so these days here are very important to get the bases for the whole season”.
When asked about the importance of the preparation, he added: “The most important thing is to get up to speed, especially in the first game, and recover the feeling of being on the pitch.”
Kroos also hailed the atmosphere of the United States, saying Real Madrid and Manchester United are the two clubs who have the most following in North America.
“There is always a great atmosphere in the United States. Real Madrid and Manchester United may be the two clubs with the most fans there.
“I expect a great atmosphere, I think it’s also a great opportunity for them to see us play because during the season all our games are in Europe. So these games in the United States are always a great opportunity.”
Lastly, he went on the add that football in the United States is slowly growing and the fact that they will host the 2026 FIFA World Cup shows how serious they are about the sport.
“You can say that football in the United States is improving, growing. They organize the 2026 World Cup so I think their idea is to grow and it shows. Now you see more players coming to the MLS.
“It will improve, grow and get bigger and bigger. And that’s the idea. Especially with the World Cup in mind. It’s always good if teams are growing. I think the United States has a lot of potential in football. There are many great cities like Orlando to build great football teams,” he concluded.
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid believe recent events vs Villarreal and Roma were necessary to unite dressing room
As is the case always, there is a lot of noise surrounding Real Madrid. The Merengues continue to wage war against FC Barcelona over the Negreira case while continuing to battle the refereeing system in La Liga.
Performances on the pitch have not met the level of expectations and there is constant scrutiny on the team and the club as a whole.
Not a coincidence
Now, according to Jose Felix Diaz of AS, Real Madrid do not view recent events as isolated incidents. At Valdebebas, the club’s leadership believes that what has happened since the start of La Liga points to something more than a series of coincidences.
In their view, the events suggest a deliberate pattern, with the four-match suspension handed to Vinícius Jr. on Wednesday representing the culmination of what they perceive as a series of provocations.
Relations between Real Madrid and the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) have been strained for some time, but club officials believe the latest developments go further than previous disagreements.
Their view is that what has happened “has not been accidental”, although this is a reflection of the club’s position rather than an established fact.
Vinicius suspension intensifies the dispute
Real Madrid see the four-match ban imposed on Vinicius as a provocation, both because of its length and, above all, because of the timing of its announcement. The decision was communicated less than two hours before kick-off against Roma.
The RFEF’s disciplinary decisions are usually published in the early afternoon. However, the complexity of the Vinicius case coupled with some other events delayed the publication of all the rulings, not just the one concerning the Brazilian’s red card.
Nevertheless, the timing has reinforced Real Madrid’s existing concerns about their relationship with the governing body.
Mourinho becomes the club’s public voice
The latest disagreement comes after tentative efforts to open a dialogue, which have so far failed to produce meaningful progress. Relations between the two sides appear more distant than ever.
One significant difference this time is that Jose Mourinho has become the principal spokesperson for Real Madrid’s position. The Portuguese coach is prepared to communicate the club’s views directly and without diplomatic restraint.
Mourinho represents the club’s thinking and shares its concerns. His personality and direct communication style align with the message Real Madrid want to convey.
Comeback in Rome could prove a turning point
Despite the growing tension off the pitch, Real Madrid believe their recent performances could have a positive impact within the squad.
The club consider the events of Saturday and the comeback against Roma on Wednesday to have been particularly important.
There is a strong belief at Valdebebas that the team needed moments of adversity and a comeback of that magnitude to achieve greater unity within the dressing room.
The Champions League battle in Rome is therefore viewed as more than just another result. Internally, the conviction is that the experience could help strengthen the team’s collective spirit and bring the players together at a crucial stage of the season.
