Real Madrid News
Silverware in sight: Benzema, Ancelotti leading the race for FIFA Best awards
Of all the teams in Europe, it is fair to say that Real Madrid have had the most successful season. Not only did they win La Liga with a dominating lead of 13 points but also decimated teams like Manchester City, Chelsea, PSG and Liverpool en route to their UEFA Champions League title.
With such prestigious silverware in the bag, there is little doubt that individual awards this season will be showered on Los Blancos’ players and management.
According to reports from Eurosport (h/t Madrid Xtra on Twitter), Karim Benzema is the favourite to win the FIFA Best player award of the season. Moreover, Carlo Ancelotti is said to be leading the race to win the FIFA Best coach award for the year.
Very few players can claim to challenge Benzema for any individual awards this season. The Frenchman was in superb form and consistently produced an impact when the team needed it most.
His 15 goals and two assists in the UCL coupled with 27 goals and 12 assists in La Liga speak volumes about his imperious form.
Sadio Mane and Mohammed Salah were said to be strong competitors to Benzema, but Real Madrid’s UCL final win over Liverpool leaves no room for doubts.
The Frenchman is also the heavy favourite to win the Ballon d’Or this season with several legends including Thierry Henry calling out France Football to hand it to Benzema.
Meanwhile, Ancelotti’s return to Real Madrid as the manager has been nothing short of a fairytale. In 56 games since his return in 2021, the team have won 39 and lost only on nine occasions. Moreover, they average close to 2.3 points per game.
Ancelotti also created managerial history by becoming the first manager to win all of the top five leagues in Europe, and the manager with the most continental titles.
Napoli winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia dreams of playing for Spanish giants Real Madrid, the winger’s father has revealed following the UEFA Champions League clash between the two teams last night.
Kvaratskhelia, 22, exploded upon arriving at Napoli last year, leading them to the Serie A title on the back of his explosive performances.
The Georgian winger has been impressing in the ongoing campaign as well, although he failed to score or assist in either of Napoli’s meetings with Real Madrid in the Champions League group stages.
Kvaratskhelia has previously spoken about how he has always been a lifelong supporter of Real Madrid and grew up idolising some of the club’s legends like Cristiano Ronaldo and Guti, among others.
Now, the 22-year-old winger’s father has revealed that his son has always dreamt of and continues to dream of playing for Real Madrid.
As quoted by Fabrizio Romano, Kvaratskhelia’s father said: “Khvicha always dreamed and still dreams of playing for Real Madrid. I am sure about it.”
Talking about the fact that the winger got to play against Real Madrid, Kvaratskhelia’s father added: “For Khvicha, playing vs Real Madrid was special. In my family, everyone is a Real Madrid supporter, except me.”
Real Madrid are in the market for attacking reinforcements, but they are looking for a centre-forward next summer and have Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland as their main targets.
As for Kvaratskhelia, whose market value stands at €85 million, it seems quite apparent that he harbours dreams of playing for Real Madrid. But it remains to be seen if there is some interest from Los Blancos in signing the winger.
