Real Madrid News
Roma legend Totti talks Real Madrid, Bernabeu, Modric, Ancelotti: “It’s my second home”
AS Roma legend Francesco Totti was one of the high-profile attendees at Santiago Bernabeu when Real Madrid beat Celta Viga 2-0. Given his time in the Spanish capital, the former Italy international also visited Real Madrid’s Valdebebas training ground, meeting several players as a result.
As part of his visit, the legendary striker also reunited with his former Roma teammate Antonio Rudiger, while also meeting the likes of Karim Benzema, Luka Modric and Vinicius Jr. among others.
It must be noted that over the course of his spectacular career, Totti has played as many as 10 games against Real Madrid. Of these 10 outings, five matches were played at Santiago Bernabeu and while speaking about the environment of the stadium, he said,
“Santiago Bernabeu is a stadium that instils passion and makes you want to play. Coming as an opponent was exciting,” he was quoted as saying by Mundo Deportivo.
In his final appearance against Real Madrid at Santiago Bernabeu, the Italian received a standing ovation from the crowd. “It was a feeling that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. It is a unique emotion to be applauded by a stadium like the Bernabéu. It was exciting.”
In 2014, Modric exchanged shirts with Totti and the 46-year-old said that he has a special relationship with the midfielder.
“I have a special relationship with Luka Modric. We admire each other. I have the pleasure of knowing him personally and he’s an extraordinary player and person,” he said.
Real Madrid are set to lock horns with Manchester City in this season’s UEFA Champions League semi-final and Totti hopes that Madrid come out on top.
“It’s a final in the semi-final. There are two great teams and two great clubs. We’ll see 50 world-class players. Anything can happen. I cheer on Real Madrid and I hope they make it to the final.”
Lastly, Totti also had joyful words reserved for Carlo Ancelotti.
“Ancelotti and I have a wonderful relationship. He is a true, pure person who transmits positivity. He gave me the chance to come and see Real Madrid City and here I am. After Roma, Real Madrid is my second team and the club that I have always encouraged and admired,” he concluded.
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid weighing up January move for €70 million-rated Arsenal midfielder – report
Real Madrid’s midfield is the one department where Jose Mourinho sees clear scope for improvement, especially given that the club did not sanction his wish for a top midfield signing in the summer.
While Bernardo Silva has chipped in as a handy option to feature in the deep midfield, the club still lacks a controlling and creative option who can glue the team together.
In that sense, there is a clear lacuna that Real Madrid need to address and Defensa Central brings to light that the club have opened up to a potential target.
Zubimendi emerges as a target
Indeed, the player in question is Arsenal’s Martin Zubimendi who the club have seen as a target for a long time, and Real Madrid could even go on to sign him in January.
The Spanish international has not started off the new season well under Mikel Arteta and has primarily featured as a substitute. He does, thus, see a move to Madrid with good eyes in every sense.
Real Madrid, for their part, have not ruled out his signing as was reported in recent months and there is even a chance they seriously pursue him in the winter transfer window as a mid-season fix.
The possible fee
The Spanish outlet also add that Zubimendi’s move to Real Madrid could be completed for a fee similar to what Arsenal paid for the player for his transfer from Real Sociedad – €70 million.
Mourinho’s insistence on making a new midfield signing is no secret, and with a clear target now in mind, the board could well back him with the player he wishes.
Notably, however, even Chelsea are seriously interested in his signing.
So far, Federico Valverde has been Real Madrid’s mainstay in midfield, and Aurelien Tchouameni’s return will change the team’s dynamics in the department.
Neither player, however, offers the control and distribution skill set that the team direly lack.
A big part of whether or not the club pushes for Zubimendi, however, will depend on how the Valverde-Tchouameni combination plays out in the coming months. It is, after all, the manager’s first-choice combination for big games.
