JOSELU BREAKS SILENCE: REAL MADRID LEGEND IDENTIFIES MISSING INGREDIENT IN XABI ALONSO’S SQUAD
Does Real Madrid miss Carlo Ancelotti? Joselu compares the "fatherly" past to Xabi Alonso’s difficult start at the Bernabeu.
Ex-Real Madrid player Joselu Mato is giving his take on what's up with the team, as Xabi Alonso looks for the secret sauce. He was with Real Madrid when they last won big under Carlo Ancelotti a couple of seasons back.
Even though Real Madrid wanted him to stay and other teams in Europe made offers, Joselu went for the money and moved to Al-Gharafa in Qatar. He said it was too good an offer to pass up, especially after playing a big part in their La Liga and Champions League success.
Joselu told Diario AS that Ancelotti was a key guy in their winning season.
He was super important. In the locker room, everyone respected him and was committed to him. We knew we wouldn't let him down. He had a lot of experience and was always open to talking. He got that at Real Madrid; no one's ego is bigger than the team. That's why we won. He was like a dad to everyone – the team, the club, and the fans.
So, what's it like walking into Real Madrid's locker room?
Everyone talks about how special it is, and apparently, Alonso had a bit of a hard time getting on the same page with some of the big stars at first. Joselu described what it was like when he first showed up.
When I walked in, I was like, 'Wow!' Kroos, Modric, guys who'd been at Real Madrid for 10 or 12 years, Bellingham who had just gotten there, Vini, Fede, Carvajal, Lucas, Nacho – I'd played with some of them before. I had two thoughts: the first was, 'I'm actually at Real Madrid!' The other was, 'I've been in this room with Carva and Lucas before. I’d practised with Kroos and Modric; I knew the equipment guys and the trainers...'
About their current problems, Joselu said that people have really high expectations for them.
They need a number nine, right? (laughs). The thing is, people are comparing the years they won everything to the years they didn't. We only lost two games the entire year: one in La Liga and one in the Copa del Rey. We tied six others and won the rest. It's hard to do that again, no matter who you are – the best Barca, the best City, the best Madrid...
“It's hard to have another year where you win everything. They're under pressure to keep winning. They’ve got Mbappe, the best goal scorer out there; Vinicius is a superstar; Rodrygo is playing great again; Bellingham; Fede… When you see those names, you think no one can beat them.
So, what's Real Madrid missing?
When pushed a little more, Joselu, who says he still watches all of Real Madrid’s games, said they might be missing some fight.
Maybe they need that competitive fire, that feeling. The year I was there, almost everyone really felt what it meant to wear the Real Madrid jersey, and it mattered to them. I don't know if they've lost that. When you play with that real feeling of being a Real Madrid fan, you get something extra.”
If you're missing something, you need that feeling. I had it, and I saw that Nacho would do anything for the club, Carvajal too, even if he was injured, Lucas Vazquez the same, Fede the same, Vini gives it everything and is a huge Real Madrid fan…
Carvajal, who's now the captain, should be back in 2026 for their first game against Real Betis. Other experienced players like David Alaba and Antonio Rudiger have had injuries, and Valverde hasn't been as strong in the midfield. Kylian Mbappe and Thibaut Courtois are the two who have really stepped up.
THIBAUT COURTOIS CLEARED TO START EL CLáSICO AFTER RECOVERING FROM INJURY
Thibaut Courtois will return for Real Madrid in Sunday's El Clásico, but Ferland Mendy is sidelined for five months with an injury.
Looks like Thibaut Courtois is finally set to make his return for Real Madrid in Sunday’s El Clásico, which would be his first match since March 17. Courtois injured his thigh during the Champions League clash with Manchester City and hasn’t played since. Madrid really missed him; they managed just one clean sheet in eight games while he was out.
Now, with the trip to Camp Nou right around the corner, Courtois is back at just the right time. According to MARCA, he’ll start against Barcelona unless something unexpected happens between now and then. He trained with the squad on Monday and looks ready to reclaim his spot from Andriy Lunin, who’s had a tough couple of months and faced a fair share of criticism. If Courtois starts, he’ll notch his 330th appearance for the club.
But here’s the problem: while Arbeloa gets a major boost in goals, his squad is still missing key players. Arda Güler, Éder Militão, Dani Carvajal, Rodrygo, and maybe even Kylian Mbappé remain sidelined, so Madrid are still far from full strength for this crucial match on May 10.
Ferland Mendy joins the injury list too after picking up a muscle issue in the 2–0 win over Espanyol. He only lasted 14 minutes before coming off, and further tests showed a hamstring injury bad enough that ESPN says he could be out for up to five months, possibly needing surgery.
That one really hurts since Mendy had played so well lately, especially against Savinho and Michael Olise in the Champions League. To make things even more complicated, Álvaro Carreras seems to have dropped down Arbeloa’s pecking order, so Fran García is expected to fill in at left back on Sunday.
Now, about the title race. Barcelona sit 11 points clear at the top, so the La Liga title is basically theirs. Madrid already swallowed the bitter pill of losing out to their biggest rivals for a second straight season, but two things could still make this sting even more. First, they dodged the humiliation of being forced to give Barcelona a guard of honour at the Camp Nou. Madrid’s win over Espanyol last weekend stopped that from happening.
But here’s what Madrid really wants to avoid: Barcelona celebrating the title in front of them on Sunday. The math is simple: if Barça earn even a draw, they clinch the league. The only way Madrid can delay the inevitable is by taking all three points and spoiling the party at least for another week.
WHY DID REAL MADRID CHOOSE TO KEEP ENDRICK DESPITE MASSIVE PREMIER LEAGUE INTEREST?
After a stellar loan at Lyon, Endrick will return to Real Madrid this summer alongside Jacobo Ramón to form a new youth core.
Real Madrid has zero plans to let Endrick leave this summer. That’s what we’re hearing, even with Arsenal and Chelsea knocking on their door. We’ve also got some updates on Jacobo Ramon’s future.
Endrick is finishing his loan at Lyon on a high note. He’s put up seven goals and seven assists in just 18 games, and people are excited about what he could do long-term.
The 19-year-old forward from Brazil wanted more game time after struggling for chances with Xabi Alonso in charge at Madrid, so he pushed for a loan. Now, with Alonso gone, Endrick’s focused on forcing his way into Brazil’s World Cup squad, and honestly, the way he’s been playing lately, he’s making a strong argument.
Big clubs are paying attention. Arsenal and Chelsea have both checked in recently to see if Madrid would be open to a deal for him this summer.
But Madrid’s answer? No chance. They’ve told both clubs straight up: Endrick’s coming back to the Bernabéu, and he’s in their first-team plans for next season.
Endrick’s on board with that, too. He wants to stay and fight for a spot, a real chance to prove himself as a regular in Madrid’s lineup.
Florentino Perez backs him all the way; he still believes Endrick is the best young talent out there. The club isn’t about to change its mind.
Endrick’s not the only Madrid youth getting attention from the Premier League. Arsenal and Chelsea have also been checking in about Jacobo Ramon, the young centre-back playing for Como in Italy right now.
Ramon’s been playing alongside Nico Paz under Cesc Fabregas and has done well. Even though he moved from Madrid to Como last summer, Madrid made sure to keep buy-back and sell-on clauses, so it’s almost like he’s still a Madrid player on loan.
Now, the plan is for Ramon to return to Madrid this summer with Endrick and Paz. The club’s looking to keep its young core together and build the future around them.
Lots of clubs are watching Ramon; more than six want to sign him. But honestly, Madrid’s stance is pretty clear: just like with Endrick, they aren’t budging.
So for Arsenal, Chelsea, and anyone else hoping to swoop in, the message is simple. Madrid is keeping their best young talents. They’re not letting them go.
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