Real Madrid News
Soon-to-become Real Madrid manager wants club legend in his sporting staff – report
It appears to be only a matter of time before Jose Mourinho is formally roped in as the next Real Madrid manager.
Talks between the Portuguese tactician and Real Madrid are in advanced stages and could be finalised at the end of the month, with the coach set to make his Bernabeu return after 13 years.
Aware of the task ahead of him, Mourinho wants a star-studded coaching staff that can help him fix the issues at Real Madrid and restore the club’s lost glory.
Mourinho wants a Real Madrid legend by his side
According to OK Diario, one of Mourinho’s first priorities upon his return will be to include a former Real Madrid player in his coaching staff.
This would be similar to a strategy he employed during his first stint at the club.
Back then, Mourinho attempted to bring Raul Gonzalez onto his staff, but the legendary striker preferred to continue playing and moved to Schalke instead.
Mourinho turned to Aitor Karanka, who proved to be not only a loyal lieutenant but also a capable coach in his own right.
Thirteen years on, Mourinho wants to repeat the formula. His preferred choice this time is once again Raul Gonzalez.
However, that option appears unlikely given that the former Castilla coach did not leave Real Madrid on the best of terms just months ago.
Alternatives being considered
With Raul seemingly unavailable, Mourinho is expected to look at other former Real Madrid players currently operating within the club’s setup. Diego Lopez, who worked under Raul at Castilla, has been mentioned as a potential option.
Mourinho also intends to bring across some of the assistants he has worked with from Fenerbahce to Benfica, including fitness coaches, though the future role of Antonio Pintus within the new setup remains to be determined.
The formal conversation between Mourinho and Florentino Perez will not take place until Benfica’s season concludes, the report adds.
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.
