StadiumPosts Logo
Stay upto date with notifications from Stadiumposts
Notifications can be managed in browser preferences

ANKLE WORRY: TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD DOUBTFUL FOR MAN CITY CLASH

Xabi Alonso faces major selection issues as Trent Alexander-Arnold and Eduardo Camavinga pick up injuries ahead of the Man City Champions League tie.

Ankle Worry: Trent Alexander-Arnold Doubtful for Man City Clash
Arnold Assist Milestone Ruined by Ankle Injury

Trent Alexander-Arnold had a rough night in Real Madrid's 3-0 win against Athletic Club. He seemed to hurt his ankle and had to be taken out of the game in the 55th minute. It's a shame, since he finally got his first La Liga assist, setting up Kylian Mbappe's early goal.

Trent's Injury

On Wednesday, Alexander-Arnold was having one of his better games for Madrid. His long pass was perfectly controlled by Mbappe, who blew past Athletic's midfield and scored a great goal. Alexander-Arnold also seemed solid on defence against Nico Williams. But then he went down, and after some attention from the medical staff, had to be replaced by Raul Asencio. This is another headache for manager Xabi Alonso, who's already missing Dani Carvajal. Now he has to wait for test results to see how long Alexander-Arnold will be out.

Assist Drought Over

Alexander-Arnold's start in Madrid hasn't been easy. The Spanish press has been tough on him. After his last game, a 1-1 draw with Girona, one journalist even called him clueless. He hadn't won over many Madrid fans in his first few months. But now he has an assist to add to the one he got at the Club World Cup this summer. It wasn't a typical assist, since Mbappe did most of the work, but it would have been a confidence boost if he hadn't gotten hurt. This comes almost three months after a hamstring issue sidelined him for six games.

More Injuries

Alexander-Arnold isn't the only injury concern for Alonso. Eduardo Camavinga, who scored Madrid's second goal, also had to come off. He appeared to have a muscle problem. Both players are now waiting to see what the tests say. Camavinga's 2024-25 season was already disrupted, with only 15 appearances. Another injury would be a big blow. Alonso is already missing Carvajal, David Alaba, Dean Huijsen, and Ferland Mendy, so more injuries would limit his options.

What's Next?

Alexander-Arnold will get his ankle checked out to see how bad the injury is. He'll probably miss Sunday's game against Celta Vigo and possibly the Champions League match against Manchester City. After that, Madrid plays Alaves and Sevilla before a short Christmas break. The win in Bilbao eased some of the pressure on Alonso, who had been criticised after three La Liga games without a win. They're still one point behind Barcelona, who beat Atletico Madrid. They need to get on a winning streak if they want to take the league title from their rivals.

WHY AC MILAN ARE TURNING TO REAL MADRID’S BACKUP ANDRIY LUNIN TO REPLACE MIKE MAIGNAN

AC Milan is preparing a €15M bid for Andriy Lunin. Discover why the Real Madrid keeper is now the favourite to take over at San Siro.

top-news
Is Andriy Lunin The Solution To Milan

AC Milan might go after Andriy Lunin from Real Madrid this summer, according to Defensa Central. Apparently, Milan is having trouble getting Mike Maignan to sign a new contract.

So, Lunin is high on their list as a possible replacement. He did sign a deal to stay with Real Madrid until 2030, but Milan is still watching him while things with Maignan are up in the air.

Reportedly, Milan gave Maignan a final offer of €7 million per season, but he's not sure about it. Because of this, the club is now scouting for other options.

If Maignan leaves, Milan's bosses plan to offer between €10 million and €15 million for Lunin. They think that's a fair price for a keeper with his experience.

Real Madrid usually doesn't do winter transfers. The club has already said they won't sell anyone in January, except for loaning Endrick to Lyon. So, they won't even think about a deal for Lunin until the season is over.

Lunin turned down offers from Turkish clubs last summer to compete for his spot at Real Madrid. The chance to start every week at Milan could change his mind. At 26, he's currently Courtois' backup. A move in 2026 could give him the playing time he wants. Manchester United was also interested in Lunin last summer, so there'll be plenty of teams after him.

Why Real Madrid Should Ask for More or Keep Lunin

Lunin showed what he's capable of when he filled in for Courtois. He has the skills to play at the highest level. He saved Real Madrid many times, including in important Champions League games. Because of his input, his value has increased.

The rumoured price of €10 million to €15 million seems too low. Lunin was key to Real Madrid's defence for most of the 2023/24 season. Real Madrid should ask for way more if they decide to sell. If not, they should keep him as a backup in case Courtois gets hurt again.

Selling him for that little would be a mistake. It’s almost impossible to find another backup as good as him for that price these days. It's hard to keep a keeper who wants to be the number one, but Xabi Alonso thinks having a deep squad is very important.

Real Madrid needs to think about the money versus the risk on the field. Letting a talent like Lunin go for cheap would be a bad move. Madrid should keep him unless Milan makes a much better offer. Having two top-notch goalkeepers creates a sense of security that money can't often buy.

MARKET REPORT: WHY CHELSEA IS SUDDENLY THE FAVORITE TO RESIGN ANTONIO RüDIGER

Antonio Rüdiger is considering a shock return to Chelsea as Real Madrid pause contract talks. Read why Xabi Alonso is hesitant.

top-news
Chelsea to Explore a Free Transfer for Antonio Rüdiger

Word on the street is that Antonio Rudiger might head back to Chelsea. The Real Madrid player is thinking about coming back to the Premier League. His deal with Real Madrid runs out in 2026, and he hasn't agreed to a new one yet. There's talk he might leave next summer and maybe even team up with Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia.

Contract Talks On Hold

Back in November, Marca said that Rudiger and Real Madrid started talking about a new contract, but those talks are on pause now. His current contract is up at the end of the season. They started talking months ago, threw some numbers around, and both sides seemed to want a deal.

But they stopped talking after Rudiger hurt his muscle in September. They decided it wasn't right to make a deal while he was getting better.

Back to Chelsea?

Rudiger played for Chelsea for five years, winning a Champions League title, before moving to Real Madrid in 2022. Now, he might go back to Chelsea. There are rumours that Chelsea wants him back next summer, according to Diario AS.

Also, Paris Saint-Germain is interested, and Galatasaray is watching what's happening with him in Madrid.

Besides Europe, he's also wanted in Saudi Arabia. Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal are thinking about trying to get him next year.

What Alonso Thinks

BILD said in October that Xabi Alonso, the Madrid boss, isn't totally sold on Rudiger. He thinks Rudiger has been getting injured too much and hasn't been playing consistently. Also, Dean Huijsen, who joined in the summer, has been playing great and has already won a starting spot. Huijsen and Eder Militao have been a solid pair in the back, but Militao got hurt recently.

Madrid Might Not Sign Two Defenders

Even with Rudiger's future up in the air, AS says that Madrid isn't looking to sign two defenders anymore. They were looking at Ibrahima Konate from Liverpool and Dayot Upamecano from Bayern Munich. Both of those guys might leave their clubs since they're in the last six months of their contracts.

There were reports that Real Madrid wasn't interested in Konate because he hadn't been playing well lately. They might still move next summer, but it probably won't be to Real Madrid.

Alonso's team plays Real Betis at home on January 4 after the winter break.

Premier League Standings

WhatsApp Read More News