Real Madrid News
Zinedine Zidane sends heartfelt farewell messages to departing Real Madrid duo
Real Madrid played their final league game of the season against Real Sociedad last weekend and it was a night that marked the end of an era.
The biggest news of the night was that Carlo Ancelotti oversaw his last game as the coach of the team and is now officially no longer in the position.
Concurrently, however, the likes of Luka Modric and Lucas Vazquez also played their final games at the Santiago Bernabeu as both players will not renew with the club for next season.
Zidane’s message
Tributes poured in for Modric earlier this week after the Croatian officially announced his departure before Real Madrid’s final game.
The case with Vazquez is different for the club will announce his departure after the FIFA Club World Cup.
Now, former Real Madrid manager and club legend Zinedine Zidane has come out on his official social media handle to give his open farewell message to both players individuallt.
First, he penned a short yet heartfelt message to the Croatian midfielder who will leave the club after winning it all. After all, Modric was the heart and soul of Real Madrid’s triplet of UEFA Champions Leagues under Zidane.
“Happy to have crossed your path and to have lived these moments with you. What a football player you are! Thank you.”
Zidane then wrote out to Vazquez under an hour later in a seperate post and called him a ‘great and committed’ player.
“A great player and a very committed professional. Congratulations on your story at Real Madrid, Lucas!”
Both players will play under Xabi Alonso’s command next month in the FIFA Club World Cup which will be their final tournament in a Real Madrid jersey. Their next steps are still not known.
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.
