Real Madrid News
Reason why Real Madrid defender misses out against Atletico Madrid – report
Real Madrid’s squad announcement for the crucial La Liga clash against Atletico Madrid did not bring many surprises at first glance, but one absence quickly stood out.
Raul Asencio was expected to be included in the squad, especially after returning to training in recent days. However, his name was missing, raising questions ahead of such an important fixture.
According to a report from AS, the reason behind his absence is precautionary rather than serious.
What’s the story?
As per the outlet, the defender has been dealing with a minor issue since the match against Celta Vigo earlier this month. While he has shown signs of improvement and even rejoined group training, he has not yet fully recovered.
The coaching and medical staff made a joint decision to leave him out of the squad to avoid any unnecessary risk.
Allowing him to play could have led to a relapse, something Real Madrid are keen to avoid at this stage of the season.
Instead, the focus is on ensuring he reaches full fitness after the upcoming international break.
What makes the situation particularly frustrating is how close Asencio appeared to returning. In recent days, he had been training with the group and gradually increasing his workload.
Although he was not at 100%, there was a growing sense that he could be available for selection.
The defender even tested himself during the final session at Valdebebas before the squad announcement.
However, after evaluating his condition, the decision was made to remain cautious. The risk simply outweighed the reward, especially given the intensity of a derby match.
Meanwhile, his absence adds to an already concerning injury list for Real Madrid.
Thibaut Courtois remains sidelined, while Eder Militao is recovering from a hamstring issue. Ferland Mendy is also unavailable, and Dani Ceballos continues to deal with a muscle problem.
The most serious setback comes in attack, where Rodrygo is out with a significant knee injury, further reducing options for Alvaro Arbeloa.
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid, Barcelona best placed to sign Man United gem as total cost could exceed €10-15 million
Things seem to be heating up with regard to the future of wantaway Manchester United prodigy JJ Gabriel.
Real Madrid are one of the clubs pursuing the teenage wonderkid, who has made it clear that he does not wish to continue with the Premier League club.
Apart from Los Blancos, other top European clubs like FC Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Paris Saint-Germain also remain keen on the English starlet.
Real Madrid, Barcelona best placed
In a major development, Sky Germany now reports that Real Madrid and Barcelona have emerged as the clubs best positioned to sign Gabriel.
The teenage attacking midfielder is understood to be giving preference to a move to Spain despite Bayern Munich intensifying their pursuit.
Real Madrid are understood to be in active negotiations with Gabriel and his camp, while his representatives continue to talk with multiple other clubs before a final decision is made.
But his preference to move to Spain gives Los Blancos an advantage, along with Barcelona.
However, there could be some issues in the deal going through smoothly because of the financial aspects of the operation.
€10-15 million total package
According to the German outlet, the total package to sign Gabriel, including transfer fees, wages, and bonus payments, among others, could end up costing in excess of €10-15 million.
Previous reports suggested that Manchester United would seek a training compensation of €300,000, while the player’s camp was said to be seeking a seven-figure salary.
But, if the aforementioned report is to be believed, the total cost of the operation seems to be coming out much higher at around €10-15 million.
Such a figure for a player who has just turned 16 a week ago could be seen as excessive despite the potential and talent he possesses.
It will be interesting to see how things evolve in this transfer saga as Gabriel remains determined to leave Manchester United and is angling a move to Spain, putting Real Madrid and Barcelona in the driving seat.
