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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.
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.
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.
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.
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