Real Madrid News
Toni Kroos lavishes praise on Real Madrid whizkid: “He’s so good”
Nico Paz has emerged as one of the most exciting talents to come out of the Real Madrid academy lately.
An attacking midfielder by trade, the youngster has starred for the Real Madrid youth sides in the UEFA Youth League as well as the domestic youth competitions, notably racking up six goals in total.
Although Paz is yet to make his senior debut for Real Madrid, he has been called up to train with the first team on several occasions while he has also been named in the matchday squad.
And, now, the 18-year-old Argentine prodigy earned praise from midfielder Toni Kroos as we approach the season’s end.
“This boy (Nico Paz) should train with us every day because he’s so good,” Kroos told MARCA in a recent interview.
This could be huge for Paz, who has been pushing for a place in the Real Madrid senior squad next season. The youngster, as mentioned earlier, has already performed brilliantly in domestic youth competitions, impressing onlookers with his technical prowess.
Although Real Madrid are poised to sign Jude Bellingham this coming summer, Paz’s ascension to the team could be beneficial for the club, especially with Kroos and Luka Modric likely to leave Santiago Bernabeu in 2024.
The presence of young players like Paz, therefore, could offer Carlo Ancelotti exciting alternatives who are more than capable of making an impact at the professional level.
It could also aid the player, giving him a platform to showcase his skills at the highest level of football. Paz, therefore, will be looking to perform well during the pre-season preparations for Real Madrid this coming summer.
His performances could go a long way in determining his fate in the Real Madrid senior setup. Apart from him, Sergio Arribas will also hope to seek a place in the first team, ahead of the coming season.
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid full-back never considered summer exit, would retire at club if given chance
Ferland Mendy finds himself in a difficult situation at Real Madrid. The Frenchman has struggled with injury and fitness woes for a large part of the past year, leading to doubts over his future at the club.
In fact, it had been reported that Los Blancos were considering selling Mendy during the summer transfer window earlier this year itself.
But, such a move did not materialise and the 28-year-old has stayed put at the Santiago Bernabeu although reports suggest that he is likely to be on the move next year.
Mendy would retire at Real Madrid if he could
Despite there having been numerous reports about his future in the summer, The Athletic reports that Mendy did not consider the possibility of an exit at any point.
In fact, the report adds that if given a chance, the 28-year-old defender would retire at Real Madrid.
Mendy’s contract with Los Merengues expires in 2025 and he is understood to be seeking a renewal for a while now, but there has been no move made by the club.
The injuries that the 28-year-old has picked up are understood to be a major deterrent for Real Madrid, which is why they are already looking to reinforce the left-back position with Alphonso Davies next year.
Mendy enjoys Ancelotti’s trust
Despite the non-stop speculations surrounding him, Mendy continues to enjoy the full trust of manager Carlo Ancelotti.
Indeed, as per the report, the Italian tactician has informed the Frenchman that he is the left-back that best fits the defensive requirements needed in the team.
Ancelotti’s decision to bench Fran Garcia in the UEFA Champions League game even though Mendy was unavailable and start David Alaba at left-back was taken as an indicator within the dressing room that the Frenchman remains the first-choice in the position.
So, it remains to be seen how the situation unfolds over the coming months, especially with Ancelotti’s future also uncertain as his contract expires in 2024.
