Real Madrid News
Real Madrid’s 21-year-old loanee will be a part of the first-team setup next season – report
Over the past few months, Real Madrid bid goodbye to several young players that appeared to have completed their cycle in the Castilla team and did not have a place in the senior setup right away.
Sergio Arribas, Carlos Dotor, Marvin Park, and Antonio Blanco are some of the names that were sold outright by the club with buyback clauses inserted for almost each such player.
Rafa Marin was an exception in the sense that the 21-year-old was not sold but was instead sent out on loan to Deportivo Alaves after renewing his contract with the club.
Marin will be part of the first-team setup in 2024/25
Now, AS is reporting that the plan for Marin is to return to Real Madrid at the end of the season to become a part of the first team for the next campaign.
The 21-year-old centre-back will be handed the role of the fourth centre-back at the Santiago Bernabeu once he returns from his loan stint.
As things stand, Los Blancos have Eder Militao, David Alaba, Antonio Rudiger, and Nacho Fernandez as their frontline options for the centre-back.
The recent injury to Militao has seen Carlo Ancelotti call up Marvel from the Castilla setup to train with the seniors.
Marin, had he stayed, would, in all probability, have been the one to replace Militao. But the 21-year-old will be a part of the first-team setup next term, when Nacho will see his contract expire.
As for his time at Alaves, the young Spaniard has played in each of the newly-promoted La Liga club’s two matches so far this season, starting one.
Real Madrid will hope that Marin continues to gather regular minutes and gain valuable experience before returning to the club next year.
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid retain total confidence in Carlo Ancelotti despite derby disaster – report
Sunday night was a disappointing one for Real Madrid as they succumbed to a 3-1 defeat to arch-rivals Atletico Madrid in the Madrid derby at the Civitas Metropolitano.
The Merengues suffered their first defeat of the 2023/24 season as former striker Alvaro Morata scored a brace for the Rojiblancos while Antoine Griezmann was also on target.
Real Madrid might be feeling aggrieved by some of the calls made by the referee on the night but they were just not good enough to secure all three points at the Metropolitano.
Real Madrid retain full confidence in Ancelotti
Despite the disappointing performance and outcome, Real Madrid retain their full and total confidence in manager Carlo Ancelotti, reports Jose Felix Diaz (via RM4Arab).
There had been question marks about the team selection made by the manager for the derby against Atletico Madrid.
After all, the Italian opted to bench Joselu from the starting XI to bring in Luka Modric and shift the tactics.
Aurelien Tchouameni was also left out despite being one of the team’s strongest performers this season with Toni Kroos being preferred.
The Real Madrid hierarchy wishes for the manager to trust the next-gen midfield for the big games but Ancelotti’s selection indicated that he is still not ready to do so.
Despite there being some differences, the board retains full confidence in Ancelotti.
Ancelotti accepts blame for defeat
It was a disappointing performance from Real Madrid in their biggest test of the 2023/24 season so far and speaking after the match, manager Ancelotti accepted the blame for the outcome.
“Maybe I could have done it better. It’s pretty clear. When the team doesn’t do what it has to do, it’s my responsibility. It’s my fault,” Ancelotti said.
With the game done and dusted, Real Madrid now turn their focus towards producing a strong comeback when they face Las Palmas later this week.
