Real Madrid News
Rival watch: Key PSG duo miss recovery session ahead of Real Madrid tie
Real Madrid are getting ready to face Paris Saint-Germain in what promises to be an intense FIFA Club World Cup semi-final.
PSG began their preparations on Sunday, July 6, holding a recovery session for players who started in their last game against the German side.
However, according to Mundo Deportivo, a few key names were missing from the training pitch.
Right-back Achraf Hakimi and midfielder Fabian Ruiz stayed in the gym instead of joining the group, as did defender Presnel Kimpembe, raising some concerns for coach Luis Enrique.
What about the rest?
The rest of PSG’s starting eleven trained at their camp before flying to New York, where they will continue their preparations until the match.
The substitutes completed a full training session as they look to earn a spot in the team for the crucial clash against Real Madrid.
The outlet says that PSG boss Luis Enrique does not plan to make changes to his midfield trio of Vitinha, Joao Neves, and Ruiz, even though Ruiz is still regaining his fitness after being sidelined by a viral illness that kept him out of training ahead of the match against Bayern Munich.
The Spanish coach will hope his midfield can stay solid despite recent setbacks.
Both dealing with suspension
Both PSG and Real Madrid will be missing important players when they meet in the semi-final.
For Real Madrid, young centre-back Dean Huijsen will not be available after receiving a straight red card in their quarter-final win against Borussia Dortmund.
PSG have problems of their own. Ecuadorian defender Willian Pacho and French star Lucas Hernandez were both sent off in their last match against Bayern Munich, meaning they will miss the semi-final.
With two central defenders suspended, Luis Enrique is short on options at the back. He is expected to pair Marquinhos with Lucas Beraldo in central defence, hoping they can keep Real Madrid’s talented forwards at bay and help PSG reach the final.
According to TeamTalk, Real Madrid have joined the growing list of clubs monitoring Gabriel Rajkovic, a 15-year-old winger whose rapid development at Valerenga has already attracted attention from several of Europe’s leading sides.
The Merengues are known for keeping an eye on exciting young talent across the globe and it seems that Rajkovic’s exploits in Norway, with the first team, have alerted them.
Real Madrid keeping tabs on Rajkovic
As per the report, Real Madrid are among a host of clubs closely following the progress of the young forward.
Rajkovic holds both Norwegian and Serbian nationality and has emerged as one of the most promising young players in Norway.
His development has not gone unnoticed, with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund also understood to be monitoring him.
However, at this point, it is Arsenal and Chelsea, who are understood to be leading the charge for Rajkovic, having compiled a detailed dossier on the teenage prodigy after extensive scouting.
On top of that, the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur have all watched Rajkovic in recent weeks.
Real Madrid could therefore face significant competition if they decide to step up their interest in a player who has already made an impression at senior level.
Making an impact at just 15
Rajkovic was handed a promotion to the Valerenga first-team squad in January earlier this year, when he was only 14 years old.
Following that, he signed a new contract with the club in March, when he turned 15, committing to the club until 2028.
Despite being only 15, the winger has already begun gaining experience in first-team football. In all, he has made 14 senior appearances for the Norwegian outfit, scoring three and assisting one goal.
Rajkovic has also represented Norway Under-16s, making two appearances and scoring once despite being younger than many of his teammates.
Those numbers become more impressive when his age and stage of development are taken into account.
Real Madrid have built a reputation for identifying young talent well before players reach their peak, and Rajkovic has now emerged as another name on their scouting radar.
But given the number of clubs in the race, signing the teenage wonderkid will not be easy.
