Real Madrid News
Real Madrid veteran tipped to win Ballon d’Or by former teammate
James Rodriguez, the former Real Madrid attacking midfielder, has expressed that Dani Carvajal should win the Ballon d’Or this year, putting him ahead of contenders like Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Jr.
The Ballon d’Or is one of the most prestigious individual awards in football, usually dominated by forwards and attacking players. However, Carvajal, a full-back for Real Madrid and the Spanish national team, is strongly considered by many for this honour.
Carvajal’s career is decorated with numerous titles, and his consistent performances have made him a vital part of both his club and national team.
Despite being a defender, a position often overlooked in individual awards, Carvajal’s contributions on the field have not gone unnoticed. His former teammate, James Rodriguez, who has had a remarkable career himself, believes that he deserves this recognition.
Why is Carvajal ahead of Bellingham and Vinicius?
Rodriguez, who has recently been in the spotlight for his impressive performances in the Copa America, is well-respected in the football community.
As a Colombian international, his opinions on football matters carry significant weight. Currently, he is about to announce his departure from Sao Paulo, adding more interest to his recent statements.
When asked who he thinks should win the Ballon d’Or this year, Rodriguez was clear in his support for Carvajal. “Who should win the Ballon d’Or this year? Carvajal, if it’s for titles, played well,” he said as quoted by Mundo Deportivo.
Furthermore, he was less enthusiastic about other candidates like Bellingham and Vinicius Jr., saying, “Bellingham, I don’t know… Vinicius… the Copa America,” pointing out that Vinicius did not perform well in the Copa America held in the United States.
At 32 years of age, Carvajal played a whopping 54 matches for club and country, scoring seven goals and eight assists while winning La Liga, UEFA Champions League, Spanish Super Cup and UEFA Euro 2024.
Interestingly, he also scored the opening goal for Real Madrid in the Champions League final win over Borussia Dortmund – and also scored for Spain in a Euro 2024 group victory over Croatia.
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid hope captain will resume group training tomorrow and be ready for Villarreal
Real Madrid received a major boost in training today as Kylian Mbappe participated in the group session, indicating his readiness for the upcoming game against Villarreal.
The French superstar had returned from international duty with a knee injury, but seems to have left it behind and appears ready to start at the Santiago Bernabeu come Saturday.
What about Federico Valverde?
Now, according to AS, Federico Valverde was not part of the group training session today at Valdebebas. Instead, he was involved in an individual session away from his teammates.
However, Real Madrid hope that their club captain will be able to resume working with the rest of the squad on Thursday, putting him in the fray to return in time for Saturday’s clash against Villarreal.
Valverde is currently recovering from an ankle sprain that he sustained in Real Madrid’s 2-1 derby defeat against Atletico Madrid prior to the international break.
The Uruguayan midfielder was on the receiving end of a harsh tackle from Kang-In Lee, which left him injured, ruling him out of action for the national team.
The 28-year-old stayed behind in Madrid and has worked hard on his recovery, with things progressing in the right direction.
What now remains to be seen is whether he can jump back into group training session on Thursday, which would put him on the path to return to action against Villarreal.
A key player for Mourinho
So far this season, Valverde has emerged as a permanent fixture in the team under new manager Jose Mourinho.
The Real Madrid captain has started all of the team’s eight matches in all competitions this term, scoring and assisting one goal apiece.
His potential availability for Saturday’s clash against Villarreal will come as a major boost for Mourinho & co. Everything will depend on how things progress in tomorrow’s training session at Valdebebas.
With Ibrahima Konate also recovering from his knee sprain, Real Madrid have only three players sidelined currently: Raul Asencio, who recently underwent surgery, Rodrygo Goes, who is a long-term absentee, and Ferland Mendy, who has resumed work with the ball.
