Real Madrid News
Rival watch: Key Barcelona star to miss Copa del Rey semi-final first leg vs Real Madrid
Real Madrid will lock horns with arch-rivals Barcelona in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-finals on March 2 at the Santiago Bernabeu.
With two weeks left for the match, Los Blancos have been handed a boost as Barcelona midfielder Pedri is set to miss the contest due to a thigh injury.
The 20-year-old sustained an injury earlier today when the Blaugrana played Manchester United in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League knockout playoffs at Camp Nou.
Around the 40th-minute mark, Pedri went to the ground clutching his thigh and asked to be taken off, with Sergi Roberto replacing him.
Following that, Catalunya Radio is now reporting that Pedri will be sidelined for a period of three to four weeks, which rules him out of the Copa del Rey semi-final clash against Real Madrid.
The 20-year-old midfielder could return in time for the second El Clasico next month when Barça host Real Madrid in La Liga on March 19 – a match that could have major repercussions on the title race.
Apart from Pedri, Barcelona will also be without Ousmane Dembele for the Copa del Rey clash next month, which will be another boost for Carlo Ancelotti & co.
Real Madrid and Barcelona have already tussled twice this season. The Merengues secured an impressive win over their bitter rivals in La Liga. But they were completely outplayed by Xavi Hernandez’s side in the finals of the Spanish Super Cup last month.
Los Blancos have not won the Copa del Rey in over eight years and will be aiming to set that record straight this season. But first, they will need to get past Barça in the semi-finals.
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid eye €40 millon-rated goalkeeper as potential Thibaut Courtois replacement
Real Madrid boast one of the best goalkeepers in world football in the form of Thibaut Courtois.
However, the Belgian is already 34 and his current contract at the club expires at the end of the season.
Although Real Madrid are keen on extending his contract, they are preparing for the possibility of life beyond the veteran goalkeeper as well.
Keeping that in mind, Real Madrid are already keeping tabs on the market and monitoring potential replacements, with Diogo Costa emerging as one of the options.
Real Madrid interested in Diogo Costa
As reported by Bernabeu Digital, Costa is among the goalkeepers Real Madrid are interested in, as they look for potential replacements for Courtois.
The Portuguese international is regarded highly and has been endorsed personally by the club’s new goalkeeping coach, Nuno Santos.
Jose Mourinho is also said to be playing a key role in driving the club’s interest in Costa, who currently plies his trade for FC Porto.
At age of just 26, Costa has established himself as the firm number one for the Portugal national team, having already won almost 50 caps.
€40 million for Costa?
Acquiring the services of Diogo Costa, though, won’t be a walk in the park for Real Madrid.
The Portuguese international is valued at around €40 million, which the club might see as steep.
But given the experience and the quality Costa offers, Real Madrid do indeed see him as the ideal candidate to replace Courtois, if necessary.
Given that he is also liked by Mourinho and Santos, there is no reason why Real Madrid will be against paying that premium for the goalkeeper, especially if Courtois ends up leaving the club.
Real Madrid, though, are also open to finding an in-house replacement for Courtois, with Javi Navarro, in particular, making a lot of waves in the lower divisions.
That being said, everything indicates Courtois will sign a new contract so there shouldn’t be any immediate need for a replacement.
