Tag: Real Madrid

Ever since David Alaba became the second Real Madrid center back to suffer a torn ACL, Madridistas were clamoring for the club to sign another central defender last winter, with Carlo Ancelotti even at the forefront of the effort to sign a new defender. Since Real Madrid went on to win the Champions League and La Liga in 2023/24 without another center back, president Florentino Perez may have felt vindicated by his latest decision to stand pat in the transfer market when everyone else told him to go for more. But with Alaba still injured and now top prospect Joan Martinez joining him, Real Madrid remain thin at center back, and as the defense collapses after giving up a combined seven goals against Barcelona and AC Milan, the cries for another defender are becoming loader. Real Ma...

Real Madrid are in desperate need of a top left back, and they've been searching for a star player at the position ever since Marcelo starting obviously declining during the 2018/19 season. Replacing a legend like Marcelo, one of the best left backs in history, is no easy feat, and the Merengues clearly don't have the solution between either Ferland Mendy or Fran Garcia. Mendy has been favored by Carlo Ancelotti despite showing obvious technical and tactical failures over the past few seasons, while Garcia has never really settled in Madrid since re-joining the club after emerging as a top La Liga back for Rayo Vallecano. And before Fran, Real Madrid had a very intriguing and gifted left back in Miguel Gutierrez, but Carlo decided to send him off to Girona after stuffing him on th...

Trusting the youth hasn't always been Real Madrid's strong suit, especially with Carlo Ancelotti as manager. In his first year of his second stint, Carlo gave up on Miguel Gutierrez, who is now a Real Madrid transfer target due to his strong performances at Girona, and it took him ages to trust Eduardo Camavinga, who eventually proved pivotal in winning the Champions League. But Carletto has hit a new low in his treatment of young players. If Zinedine Zidane was criticized for his hesitancy to integrate Martin Odegaard, who is now one of the Premier League's best at Arsenal, then imagine what will be said about Ancelotti if he drives two even more talented youngsters away in Endrick and Arda Guler. When it comes to academy players, Carlo's track record is literally a zero, with Migue...

Real Madrid were able to overcome ACL tears to Thibaut Courtois, Eder Militao, and David Alaba last season to win La Liga and the Champions League, so if anyone can overcome another rash of serious injuries in 2024/25, then it is the Merengue club. But with Barcelona firing on all cylinders after the Hansi Flick appointment, Real Madrid are up against it this season, as exemplified by their 4-0 blowout loss at home to the Blaugrana in El Clasico. Real Madrid did not have Courtois or Rodrygo Goes available due to injury, and while both will be back soon, one star player who didn't play won't be back any time soon. Dani Carvajal played so well in the 2023/24 season as a right back that he was a legitimate Ballon d'Or candidate by the end of the campaign, even before his Spanish nati...

Real Madrid have been linked to Bayern Munich star left back Alphonso Davies for well over a year, as he has been viewed as the priority transfer target at Real's biggest position of need. Heading into the summer 2025 transfer window, Davies and Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold are widely viewed as the main two transfer targets for Florentino Perez, who is seeing the writing on the wall at both fullback positions. The left back spot has been a problem for the Merengues since Marcelo's decline in 2019, and while Dani Carvajal was a legitimate Ballon d'Or candidate last season at right back, he suffered a torn ACL this season. Real Madrid don't have any depth at right back, as the current starter is right winger Lucas Vazquez, who doesn't have a backup. Meanwhile, at left back,...

After losing 4-0 to Barcelona, Real Madrid have to worry about a Champions League battle against AC Milan on Tuesday night, and while the Rossoneri have issues of their own, everyone knows that a top Serie A side is nothing to sneeze at, especially when they have their own aura in this competiton. Even in the Champions League this season, the defending champs Real Madrid have looked vulnerable, falling 1-0 to Lille in one of the early shocks of the tournament thus far. Real Madrid were the best team in Europe last season despite a bevy of injuries, and, this season, they haven't even been the best team in their own league thus far. Hansi Flick and Barcelona have shown Carlo Ancelotti and Real Madrid levels. Ahead of Tuesday's game against Milan, Relevo reports that Carlo and the R...