Real Madrid News
Real Madrid veteran set to start against Shakhtar Donetsk after injury return – report
According to MARCA, veteran midfielder Luka Modric is all set to start for Real Madrid when they take on Shakhtar Donetsk at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday night.
Real Madrid will be hoping to bounce back to winning ways after dropping points against Osasuna over the weekend. The Merengues were held to a 1-1 draw by the La Liga club on Sunday, with Karim Benzema’s penalty miss proving costly.
At the same time, Real Madrid lacked the quality and vision of Modric in the middle of the park on the night. The Croatian was not involved in the game as he had returned with an injury from the international break.
However, the niggle was a minor one and the 37-year-old has mounted a quick recovery, with Carlo Ancelotti naming him in the squad for tomorrow’s clash against Shakhtar.
When quizzed about the possibility of the veteran star featuring from the start, the Italian tactician had not given much away in his response during his press conference.
However, now, MARCA is claiming that Modric will be playing against the Ukrainian giants from the kickoff itself, even though previous reports had indicated that Ancelotti would be careful with his star midfielder as the first El Clasico of the season is only a couple of weeks away.
It is claimed that Los Blancos want to seal progression to the Round of 16 in the Champions League by winning the next to matches against Shakhtar. Hence, a crucial player like Modric is set to start on Wednesday, despite recovering from the injury only recently.
Along with Modric, Real Madrid also welcomed Lucas Vazquez back into the squad, but the Spaniard is unlikely to start tomorrow, considering Dani Carvajal is the undisputed first-choice right-back for Ancelotti.
At the same time, though, Los Blancos have a couple of casualties as Thibaut Courtois is yet to recover from his issue while Dani Ceballos has picked up a fresh injury, ruling the duo out of the game against Shakhtar.
There is no secret that Real Madrid might consider a move for a new striker in the coming summer. With Karim Benzema slowly nearing the end of his career, the club are looking for a viable alternative ahead of the new season.
Carlo Ancelotti has been left impressed by the performances of Rodrygo in the centre forward position. But the club could still use the services of a more recognised option in the number nine position.
The Spanish giants are reportedly assessing La Liga for a potential low-cost option. But they are also open to looking through in other leagues, in their bid to add more depth in the attacking department.
To that end, Fabrizio Romano claims Real Madrid are eyeing a swoop for Roberto Firmino. The Liverpool star has become the latest player to be shortlisted by Los Blancos, with his current contract at Liverpool expiring at the end of the season.
Formerly of TSG Hoffenheim, Firmino has a stellar track record of performing in Europe. He has scored 110 goals in 361 competitive matches during his time at Liverpool, winning the Premier League and the Champions League title.
A centre forward by trade, Roberto is known for his tactical flexibility and the ability to shift into wider areas to build up the player.
It makes him an appealing target for Real Madrid, who would prefer a versatile striker in their ranks that can not only provide cover for Benzema but also the likes of Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo.
Real Madrid, though, are yet to hold any discussions with Roberto Firmino just yet. He has just been added to the list of targets and one would expect the Spanish giants to make a move once the season is over and the player becomes a free agent.
