Real Madrid News
The unexpected market opportunity Real Madrid could explore after Mallorca’s relegation
Despite already possessing one of the most dangerous attacking lines in Europe, Real Madrid may now have an unexpected opportunity to strengthen an area that caused problems for the opposition throughout the season.
Simply put, Mallorca’s relegation has placed the future of Vedat Muriqi under serious doubt, and the experienced striker is emerging as a fascinating market opportunity, something that Real Madrid can think about.
While the club is not actively searching for another forward this summer, Muriqi’s profile could offer something very different to the current options already available at the Santiago Bernabeu.
A proven scorer
Although Mallorca suffered relegation, Muriqi’s individual performances did not go unnoticed.
The striker finished the league season with 23 goals and remained in contention for the Pichichi Trophy until the final matchday, eventually ending behind Kylian Mbappe.
His performances were even more impressive considering the difficult circumstances around him.
Mallorca struggled for consistency throughout the campaign, yet Muriqi repeatedly carried the attacking responsibility almost on his own.
Now, with the club dropping into the Segunda Division, the striker could look for a route back into top-flight football, which is where Real Madrid’s interest becomes particularly intriguing.
Why Muriqi?
For now, the club already possess explosive forwards such as Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo, Gonzalo Garcia and Endrick, all of whom thrive when there is space to attack.
However, one issue that repeatedly surfaced last season was the team’s struggle against compact defensive blocks and that is exactly where Muriqi could become useful.
Simply put, the Kosovo international offers a completely different attacking profile.
Strong in the air, physically dominant, and excellent with his back to goal, he brings a traditional penalty-box presence that Real Madrid currently lack in certain matches.
To put it in perspective, five of his league goals came through headers this season, while his hold-up play regularly allowed Mallorca to create second balls and attacking pressure in difficult games.
Perhaps most importantly for Real Madrid, this is not a transfer that would require a massive financial investment.
This is because Mallorca’s relegation weakens their negotiating position significantly, making the striker one of the most affordable experienced forwards available in La Liga.
After a month into the new season, Aurelien Tchouameni is finally back in action for Real Madrid.
The Frenchman made his first appearance of the season for the Merengues last night against Inter Milan after recovering from the muscular injury that delayed his campaign.
His return to fitness had raised questions over where he would fit into Mourinho’s plans.
Tchouameni has been a regular in Real Madrid’s midfield for several seasons under different managers, but the end of last season was far less straightforward.
His confrontation with Federico Valverde, combined with speculation over his future at the club, created uncertainty about his position. His lack of a proper pre-season also appeared to put him behind other midfield options.
Bernardo Silva had established himself as an important figure, while Eduardo Camavinga was also ahead of Tchouameni in terms of match fitness.
With Real Madrid looking for greater creativity in midfield, there were questions over whether the Frenchman would still be a first-choice player.
Key for Mourinho
According to AS (h/t Bernabeu Digital), however, Mourinho has no such doubts. Tchouameni remains a key player for the Portuguese coach and is expected to be a starter.
Mourinho sees the French international as a midfielder without a direct replacement in the squad.
For Jose, Tchouameni provides something that none of the other midfielders in the squad do – a more defensive and positional presence, combining his tactical discipline with considerable physical strength.
His ability to shield the defence and provide balance could be particularly important for a Real Madrid side that want to defend aggressively and attack quickly in transition.
For that reason, his absence at the start of the campaign has not changed the manager’s view of his importance.
Mourinho faces a midfield selection problem
The challenge for Mourinho now is finding a way to fit all the pieces together.
If Tchouameni is guaranteed a starting position and Valverde is considered untouchable as captain, the obvious consequence is that Bernardo could find himself starting from the bench.
The summer arrival had been given an important role in helping Real Madrid control and distribute possession from deeper positions.
However, with Tchouameni and Valverde both occupying midfield places, Mourinho cannot accommodate everyone in the same lineup.
How the Portuguese coach manages that competition will be interesting to see in the coming weeks.
