Real Madrid News
Three Real Madrid stars set to miss out against RCD Espanyol this weekend – report
Real Madrid will look to bounce back to winning ways when they take on RCD Espanyol in La Liga this Saturday afternoon.
Ahead of the game, Los Blancos have greeted mixed news on the injury front.
And, according to journalist Guillermo Rai of The Athletic, three Real Madrid players, Karim Benzema, David Alaba and Ferland Mendy are unlikely to take part in the fixture against Espanyol at the Santiago Bernabeu in a couple of days’ time.
The good news is that Ferland Mendy has resumed training with the group while David Alaba is also stepping up his recovery, having trained outdoors, albeit individually.
However, what is a concern is that superstar striker Karim Benzema trained indoors once again due to ankle discomfort.
While Benzema is training indoors for a third day in a row, his injury is not seen as a major concern, and that his availability for the game against Liverpool next week is not in jeopardy. It is just that the club do not want to take any risks with him ahead of such an important game.
As for Mendy, he has been out of action for more than a month and his return to training certainly comes as a step in the right direction. But he is unlikely to be ready for this weekend’s game, which holds true for Alaba as well.
Meanwhile, Mariano Diaz also did not train with the rest of the group today with muscular discomfort. However, the report adds that there is a chance that the striker could resume training tomorrow and be available for selection against Espanyol on Saturday.
Although Antonio Rudiger has had success since joining Real Madrid last summer, the club are in need of more depth and players that can form the backbone of the defensive unit in the years to come.
As part of their plans, Real Madrid are prioritising a move for Josko Gvardiol in the coming summer, reports 90 Min.
The outlet suggests Gvardiol will be one of the most wanted prospects in the market, with both Real Madrid and Manchester City eyeing a move for the Croatian international come the end of the season.
Formerly of Dinamo Zagreb, Gvardiol has enjoyed immense success since his move to the Bundesliga in 2021. He has impressed onlookers with his skill, organisation and discipline, which, coupled with his versatility, make him an appealing target for any European giant.
Gvardiol was also one of the top performers at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, helping Croatia finish third in the competition. His performances have not gone unnoticed, with Real Madrid among the clubs who have been keeping an eye on the defender for a while now.
However, signing Gvardiol will be a tricky task for Los Blancos. The player still has a long-term contract at Leipzig and could cost up to €85 million, as reported by 90 Min. Not to mention, the competition from Man City could be significant.
Real Madrid have no shortage of alternatives, though, with the club notably closely monitoring Portuguese defensive whizkid Antonio Silva, among others. So it will be interesting to see how the Spanish giants approach the market in this coming summer.
