Real Madrid News
Real Madrid will ‘keep an eye’ on Chelsea target during the World Cup
Real Madrid are heading into the early mid-season hiatus second in the league table and with a desperate need to upgrade their ranks.
As part of their plans to strengthen the squad, Jorge Picon claims that the club are keeping an eye on forwards in the upcoming FIFA World Cup. It appears the club are keen on securing the services of a new frontman that can complement the current set of attackers.
Real Madrid sports management has been keeping track of the market for a long time. But they have not found anything conclusive in the market, and as such, they are keeping their eyes on the World Cup.
One of the players Real Madrid are keeping an eye on is Christopher Nkunku. A top performer at RB Leipzig, the Frenchman has enjoyed a rapid rise to prominence over the past year and a half. He is also expected to play a key role for his nation in the World Cup.
With 64 goals and 51 assists for Leipzig, Nkunku’s performances have not gone unnoticed by Real Madrid, who are eyeing him as the ideal attacking partner for the likes of Karim Benzema and Vinicius Junior.
However, the report suggests Nkunku is already in advanced talks with Chelsea over a potential move to Stamford Bridge. And unless there is no surprise twist, the Blues are likely to wrap up the signing of the Leipzig superstar.
Real Madrid, therefore, are looking for other alternatives in the market. The upcoming World Cup should give many players the platform to perform at the highest level of football, with Los Blancos closely monitoring the forwards, in particular.
Jose Mourinho is looking for solutions to Real Madrid’s problems, and the extended international break has given him time to analyse the team in depth.
Now, according to Defensa Central, one of the conclusions from his assessment concerns Jude Bellingham, Federico Valverde, Bernardo Silva and Arda Guler, the players Mourinho believes should be central to the team’s football.
Although they operate in different positions, the manager wants all four to take a step forward on the pitch.
He wants them to push their lines higher and move closer to the opposition penalty area, believing this would help Real Madrid both defensively and offensively.
Mourinho wants to pin opponents inside their own box
Mourinho wants Real Madrid’s play to go through Bellingham, Valverde, Bernardo and Guler, but he has also asked them to start creating attacks much closer to the opposition area and to link up more closely with the forwards.
The idea is to make the team more compact in possession and force opponents deeper into their own half.
If Real Madrid’s midfield can build play much higher up the pitch, opponents will have to retreat. That would allow Mourinho’s side to improve their pressing, make it more effective and increase the volume of attacks.
As a result, Real Madrid should create considerably more opportunities to score.
A compact Real Madrid for 90 minutes
Mourinho wants his team to stay together and remain compact throughout the full 90 minutes, rather than doing so only in short periods.
Defensively, this would reduce the spaces available for opponents to build their attacks and could force them to play more directly, looking to exploit the space behind the defensive line.
That is an area where the pace and defensive ability of Marc Cucurella and Denzel Dumfries, alongside Aurelien Tchouameni, can provide protection.
The same compactness could also benefit Real Madrid in attack by keeping opponents pinned back. Mourinho wants to use the quality of his players to create a greater number of dangerous situations.
Mourinho’s idea is that Real Madrid’s most talented players must push the team forward and help them put opponents under pressure much closer to the box.
