With Real Madrid blank this season (barring a small Liga miracle) without any titles the question is, now what? The "enemies" of the Spanish Club have come out of the woodwork & from under the carpet to put their "two cents" worth into the debate. A debate that circles around the figure of current Coach Ancelotti, some players not up to the level & even Cristiano Ronaldo, yes everyone is getting a hit or a punch in the face.
The main agitators are the Spanish Sports press & media which sway public opinion & gives directions to the general "sheep population" spurred on by instincts & little rationale. Normal in some way as Football is a passion & refugee of lost personalities kept burning by economic interests that prefers it this way. However, enough of what you already know allow me to summarize some of the more recent comments, speculations & rumours coming out of the Real Madrid "Crystal Ball" sessions locally.
First area of intense speculation is the Coaching future of the Club. Carlo Ancelotti wants to continue & the dressing along with its heavyweights has gone public to voice their desire that the Italian should continue. In fact Ancelotti has an advantage, the market has not anyone available with the perfil needed to steer the "huge monster ship" called Real Madrid.
Said this, critics have voiced that it is the lax hand of Ancelotti with his players that has been the problem, along with bad management of players & the bench to dosify efforts during the long session.
TV media & some local Football observers have said that Real Madrid is talking with German Coach Jurgen Klopp. In fact they go as far to say that Club reps have flown to Germany to personally talk with Klopp to negotiate terms. Thus this is the first big rumour to keep an eye on in coming weeks - months.
The other area of heated debate is the player's front. Fans & media are suggesting a "clean-up" with those not up to the level to be shown the door. Players like Coentrao, Arbeloa, Illaramendi, Silva (yes, why buy in first place) & Iker Casillas are under fire.
With the exits, news arrivals are necessary & names are (have been) circling. The first most notable is Juventus FC midfielder Paul Pogba wanted by half of Europe including PSG, Chelsea FC & FC Barcelona. According to local Spanish media Real Madrid President Florentino Perez took advantage of the Juventus visit to Madrid last Wednesday to ask Pogba the magical question in person, do you wish to play next season in Real Madrid. The Frenchman said YES!, an essential prerequisite that President Perez insists before going all out to sign. If this is true, Paul Pogba would be the big name signing for next season.
Secondly, another name is PSG Italian midfielder Verratti again sounding loud. However, here it depends if his great sponsor Carlo Ancelotti finally continues. Thirdly, everything indicates that Real Madrid will call back their on-loan player at Porto Casemiro after a fabulous season were the Brazilian has evolved & matured. Fourthly, Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea is heavily speculated to be signed & to take over the place of Iker Casillas.
Lastly, the atmosphere is so "smokey" that even Cristiano Ronaldo has been questioned. Some observers think it could be the right moment to sell the Portuguese & fill the bank account. Many see the forward beginning to "lose" his speed as the years inevitably pass. Even here no one escapes scrutiny, not even a Club legend which Cristiano Ronaldo is already.
As you can read, big rumours, lots of speculation & "in the know" comments from every "Tom, Dick & Harry". Some could be true, lots are just bullshit. What I can say with certainty is that Real Madrid followers will again have an intense summer of headlines that should keep them ( all of us ) entertained under the Sun.
Stay tuned, it's going to be a wild ride!
Yesterday we posted that Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira may have a pre-contract with Bayern Munich for next season. Plus it was added that Real Madrid was not too happy with the behaviour of their player & will not offer a new contract even if Khedira went back with his apparent desire to stay in Spanish Football.
Real Madrid already has a replacement in mind, French International & Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba. Validated by his play, plus through Real Madrid friends & National side team-mates Varane & Benzema, the Juventus player is a long time desire of the Spanish Football Club.
The transfer operation will not be easy & the market transfer price could be extremely high, but Real Madrid has always focused on the "best players" available in World Football. Paul Pogba is young & has all the qualities to be bigger & better, Real Madrid has known this for sometime & wish to get him over to their squad.
Stay tuned!
The big European Football - Soccer Clubs are already planning for the next season. Spanish Football Clubs are no different as FC Barcelona, Atletico de Madrid & Real Madrid CF exhibit with the daily generation of rumours & speculations that appear in the Sports press.
In the case of Real Madrid, new information is appearing after last weeks "summit" of Club President, Directives & Coach Ancelotti. The name of Liverpool FC forward Luis Suarez is a constant & looks like a priority for the Club. It has been for months & one can think a solid possibility.
The other names gaining ground, although not new at all are, Juventus players Arturo Vidal & youngster Paul Pogba. In this (both) case the young Real Madrid forward Alvaro Morata could enter in a hypothetical negotiation as speculation grows that Morata will be heading Juventus way.
The Real Madrid Directives - including President - sees Paul Pogba as a very interesting incorporation. However, "players reports" suggest a "rebellious streak" that manifests itself when he is not a regular starter. The report adds that the player manifests his disapproval with Coaching decisions turning down his intensity & commitment on-field. This apparent "attitude" is a negative point for Coach Ancelotti.
The other player, Arturo Vidal, is seen as a "Modric" with awesome physical power that has the maturity to play at Real Madrid. A "box to box" player with great skills, power & goal, this Coach Ancelotti likes more than team-mate Pogba.
Pogba has an estimated cost of around 60M€ while Vidal is estimated to be cheaper around the 50M€. Either way, the story & the speculated interest by Real Madrid is just this, rumour. I would expected that Juventus will not be too keen on losing both players to a European rival, thus the most reasonable assumption is that if a player was to come over to Spain it would be only one. Which one?
Stay tuned!
French 20 year old International & Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba is sounding again in Spain & within the Spanish Sports Press. His name is being connected with Spanish Football Club Real Madrid as one of the signing targets for next season.
This is happening because the number one objetive, German & Borussia Dormund player Gundogan is not recovering from his back injury, thus Real Madrid have turned their attention towards Pogba the tagged "new Viera" of World Football.
The news locally suggest that initial contact have already began between Clubs, Juventus has said they have had "working meetings" with Real Madrid. Both Clubs have summoned themselves again to meet in Abril to continue with talks. Real Madrid are "tacitly" allowing Juventus to talk to some of their players about offers, players like Coentrao & perhaps some other youngster.
The main threat to the Real Madrid plans regarding Pogba is Paris St Germain which are also interested & look like being serious competition. Real Madrid have two cards up their sleeves that they may show to help them, one is Zidane which knows the player & the other is the best friend of Pogba current Real Madrid defender Rafael Varane.
The idea for next season according to current Real Madrid Coach Carlo Ancelotti is to make two very simple but strategic reinforcements to the current team. One is a back-up to Xabi Alonso who will need to be "paced" as the years keep racing by the player.
Real Madrid is said to also be thinking about the team-mate of Pogba at Juventus Arturo Vidal. This connection is not new & goes back last season when the Chilean International was said to be on the Real Madrid agenda.
In anycase, Pogba or Vidal, or both, they will not be cheap for Real Madrid which will have to open up the cheque book. Perhaps some Real Madrid players ( Coentrao, Morata etc ) maybe included in possible operations to lower the transfer prices.
Stay tuned!
According to Spanish radio, Real Madrid President Florentino Perez ordered a private jet to fly to Verona ( Italy ) to pick up the father of Juventus & French International Paul Pogba to later arrive in Madrid for a meeting in an outer suburbs Hotel.
The defensive midfielder has apparently been recommended by young French defender Rafael Varane . Paul Pogba could be the replacement of Xabi Alonso if he finally decides to leave as he has already let known to the Club. Pogba is physically very powerful, reaches the goal square with certain ease & can score goals. This season he has 5 with Juventus.
Stay tuned!
