Real Madrid News
Xabi Alonso faces major selection dilemma against Salzburg with key position under question
Real Madrid are set to play RB Salzburg in their final group-stage match at the FIFA Club World Cup. A draw is all they need to move into the Round of 16, but the road to qualification has become more complicated after a key defensive blow.
Raul Asencio is suspended following a red card against Pachuca. His absence leaves manager Xabi Alonso with a big decision to make at the back.
Asencio has been under the spotlight recently for all the wrong reasons. He gave away a costly penalty against Al Hilal, which denied Madrid a win, and his sending-off against Pachuca left the team to play with 10 men for most of the match.
Now, Alonso must look for someone to partner Dean Huijsen, who has been Real Madrid’s standout defender in the tournament so far.
Signed from Bournemouth, Huijsen has impressed with his calmness on the ball and ability to carry it forward.
Confusion between two names
With David Alaba still being handled carefully due to fitness issues and Eder Militao not fully back from his ligament injury suffered in November 2024, Xabi Alonso has two players in mind to replace Asencio, namely Aurelien Tchouameni and Antonio Rudiger.
Tchouameni has filled in at centre-back before, both after Asencio’s red card and in the match against Al Hilal. He looked solid, offering good defensive awareness and composure.
Rudiger, on the other hand, has just returned from a muscle tear he picked up in the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona on April 26.
The German, who has had a tough year dealing with meniscus problems, featured briefly against Pachuca and now appears to be the leading candidate to start alongside Huijsen.
Alonso’s choice will play a key role in Madrid’s efforts to book a place in the next round and possibly go on to win the trophy.
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.
