Real Madrid News
Real Madrid youngster could receive World Cup call-up after Paul Pogba injury – report
With the FIFA World Cup just two weeks away, the nations involved will soon name squads that they will take to Qatar for the quadrennial extravaganza.
Reigning champions France will be among the favourites for the tournament, but they will have to defend their title with two of their most important players.
N’Golo Kante had already been ruled out of the World Cup due to an injury that will keep him out of action until the turn of the year. Now, his midfield partner, Paul Pogba, is also said to be out of the tournament with an injury.
Since leaving Manchester United for Juventus last summer, Pogba has not played a single game for club or country and his spell on the sidelines seems set to continue with the latest setback ruling him out of the World Cup.
And, according to MARCA, Pogba’s unavailability will boost the chances of Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga receiving a call-up to the France squad for the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar.
While Aurelien Tchouameni is a certainty to be involved in the World Cup, the same cannot be said of Camavinga, who has not always been preferred by France manager Didier Deschamps.
But with Kante and Pogba both ruled out, the France head coach will be forced to look for other options, which will give Camavinga’s chances of making the cut a major boost.
The 19-year-old midfielder has not been a regular starter for Real Madrid but has done well coming on from the bench whenever called upon. He has featured in each of Los Blancos’ 18 matches across all competitions this season.
Capped four times by France so far, the former Rennes wonderkid could be poised to earn a prominent role in the national team setup for the World Cup.
According to MARCA, Eder Militao is seen as the undisputed leader of the Real Madrid defence, thanks to his ‘impeccable’ level of performances. The 25-year-old’s standing in the team has forced a duel between David Alaba and Antonio Rudiger for the second centre-back slot.
Militao arrived at Real Madrid in the summer of 2019, joining from FC Porto in a deal worth €50 million. While he made a slow start to life in Spain, the Brazilian slowly grew in stature from his second season at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Following the exits of Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane, Militao established himself as a permanent fixture in the backline for the Merengues and was a standout performer last season as they won the La Liga title and the UEFA Champions League trophy.
The 25-year-old has carried on in the same vein of form this season as well, featuring in 35 matches across all competitions for Real Madrid, even chipping in with six goals.
The Brazilian international is seen as one of the best centre-backs in the world currently, with Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti sharing that opinion.
“I may lose credibility if I say Vinicius and Militão are the best striker and defender in the world respectively but it’s the truth. I am honest. Militão lacks nothing,” he had said last month.
Militao is not only viewed as the leader of the Real Madrid defence, but has also grown into a leader within the locker room as well, with the player being loved and fully supported by his teammates.
Militao’s presence has meant that Alaba and Rudiger have had to battle it out for the lone centre-back slot. The former had enjoyed a stunning season last time out after joining from Bayern Munich in 2021, but has struggled with injuries and fitness problems this term.
As for Rudiger, the German arrived last summer from Chelsea and started out slow, but has grown in confidence and stature, especially in recent months. So much so that, his signing is already being regarded as a success within the club.
In Militao, Real Madrid undoubtedly have a long-term fixture at the heart of the defence. But with Rudiger and Alaba in their thirties, the Merengues must look to bring in one more player who can take over from them in the near future and can form a partnership with Militao.
