Real Madrid have published their squad list for Tuesday's match against Elche in La Liga. While this game is expected to be a manageable one for Los Blancos, it will also be crucial to not only get the three points but gain some confidence and momentum ahead of Sunday's Madrid Derbi.
REAL MADRID SQUAD:
Goalkeepers: Courtois, Lunin, and Sergio Mestre.
Defenders: Asencio, Huijsen, Trent, Konaté, Cucurella, Á. Carreras, Rüdiger, and Dumfries.
Midfielders: Bellingham, Camavinga, Valverde, Tchouameni, Arda Güler, Bernardo, and Thiago.
Forwards: Vini Jr., Endrick, Mbappé, C. Espí, Brahim, and Yan Diomande.
HOW TO WATCH, STREAM LA LIGA
Date: 09/15/2026
Time: 21:30 CEST, 03:30pm EST.

#squad

Real Madrid host Rayo Vallecano in what should be a manageable game and a decent opportunity for José Mourinho to make some rotations, as he admitted during the pre-match press conference.
PREDICTED LINEUPS
Real Madrid predicted XI: Courtois; Dumfries, Konaté, Huijsen, Cucurella; Camavinga, Bernardo Silva; Güler, Bellingham, Vinicius; Mbappé.
Rayo Vallecano predicted XI: Cárdenas; Ratiu, Lejeune, Ciss, Pedrosa; Valentín, Bouaré; Tsitaishvili, Unai López, Álvaro García; Camello.
Camavinga, Bernardo Silva and Arda Güler will almost certainly feature in the starting lineup after being suspended for Real Madrid's match against Inter. Valverde could get some rest in this one.

#predicted #rayo #vallecano #bernardo

Real Madrid have published their squad list for Saturday's match against Rayo Vallecano in La Liga.
REAL MADRID SQUAD LIST:
Goalkeepers: Courtois, Lunin, and Sergio Mestre.
Defenders: Asencio, Huijsen, Trent, Konaté, Cucurella, Á. Carreras, Rüdiger, and Dumfries.
Midfielders: Bellingham, Camavinga, Valverde, Tchouameni, Arda Güler, Bernardo, and Thiago.
Forwards: Vini Jr., Endrick, Mbappé, C. Espí, Brahim, and Yan Diomande.
Asencio makes the list and will be available, with Bernardo Silva, Eduardo Camavinga and Arda Güler also back and expected to play. Mourinho could use this game to make some rotations and it could very well be Diomande's first start for Real Madrid.
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Date: 09/12/2026

#liga #arda #bernardo

Real Madrid host Inter Milan in the opening game of the Champions League's Group Stage. Los Blancos are coming off a disappointing loss against Betis, so bouncing back tonight would improve the team's confidence and momentum.
Real Madrid predicted XI: Courtois; Dumfries, Konaté, Huijsen, Cucurella; Valverde, Bellingham; Brahim, Diomande, Vinicius; Mbappé.
Inter Milan predicted XI: Martínez; Bisseck, Stones, Bastoni; Luis Henrique, Barella, Calhanoglu, Jones, Carlos Ausgusto; Lautaro, Thuram.
Mourinho will have to rebuild his midfield line given that Güler, Camavinga and Bernardo Silva are all out. Bellingham will likely be deployed alongside Valverde in the double pivot, with Brahim and Diomande playing in the attacking line.
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#madrid #brahim #diomande

José Mourinho will have a depleted squad when his Real Madrid team face Inter Milan next week. Arda Güler, Bernardo Silva and Eduardo Camavinga will all be suspended for that game because of cards they were shown during their last games in the European competition last season, which means that Mourinho will have to think outside the box and deploy a different kind of midfield line in the team's Champions League opener.
If Aurelien Tchouameni is able to make his return from injury in time for that game, Mourinho could use him alongside Valverde in the double pivot. However, the French midfielder hasn't rejoined the squad in training yet and he hasn't completed a single session with Real Madrid's new coaching staff, so his presence in the XI could be premature.
As things stand right now, Mourinho could move Jude Bellingham to the double pivot and play both Brahim and Diomandé with Vinicius and Mbappé in the attacking line. Trent Alexander-Arnold could also be an alternative to that move, albeit a more unorthodox one.

#hasn 't #move

Real Madrid have made their position on Eduardo Camavinga clear ahead of the transfer deadline: the midfielder will not be allowed to leave for anything below €70 million.
According to AS, however, no proposal close to that figure has reached the Bernabéu so far, while Camavinga himself has never considered leaving the club.
That combination makes a late transfer increasingly unlikely.
Real Madrid have been working with a straightforward condition for deadline day – no new arrivals unless a player leaves first – and there is currently little indication of either happening.
Camavinga's situation is nevertheless one worth watching because Real Madrid have been open to listening to offers for the France international.

#deadline #eduardo #france

Jose Mourinho has settled on his insurance policy for the season, and it is not about star power. Rather, it is about survival.
According to a report from Defensa Central, the Real Madrid manager has identified a specific group of players, namely, Eduardo Camavinga, Alvaro Carreras, Brahim Diaz and new arrival Yan Diomande, as the players he intends to lean on to keep his squad fresh and competitive across a demanding 2026/27 campaign.
As per the outlet, this is supposed to be a direct response to a problem that has haunted Real Madrid for the best part of two seasons.
It must be remembered that Real Madrid have recorded more than a hundred injuries since 2024, a run of fitness setbacks that has disrupted team continuity and forced coaches into reactive squad management.
Mourinho, by contrast, appears intent on getting ahead of it.

#according

Thiago Pitarch was one of the major positives to emerge from a disappointing last season for Real Madrid.
The 18-year-old La Fabrica midfield prodigy made his first-team debut under Alvaro Arbeloa and soon became a regular starter, even overtaking an established player like Eduardo Camavinga.
Pitarch further enhanced his reputation during the summer, starring for the Spain national team in their U19 European Championship success.
However, the youngster was dealt with a cruel setback when he returned to train under new manager Jose Mourinho as he suffered an injury early into pre-season.
It has been over five weeks since Pitarch has been out of action, and according to journalist Alvaro Esteban, the Real Madrid midfield prospect is making important progress in his recovery.

#pitarch #madrid

Real Madrid have published their squad list for Sunday's home match against Málaga.
REAL MADRID SQUAD:
Goalkeepers: Courtois, Lunin, and Javi Navarro.
Defenders: Huijsen, Trent, Konaté, Cucurella, Á. Carreras, Rüdiger, Dumfries, and Mario Rivas.
Midfielders: Bellingham, Camavinga, Valverde, Arda Güler, Bernardo, Cestero, and Alexis Ciria.
Forwards: Vini Jr., Mbappé, C. Espí, Brahim, and Yan Diomande.
No significant news on this list even though Mourinho will be expected to make some changes after the team's first two games. Málaga should be manageable opposition at home and that's why rotations could be on the way.
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Date: 08/30/2026

#goalkeepers

Real Madrid has already finalized its squad list for tomorrow's match against Málaga CF at the Bernabéu. Los Blancos will be looking to claim three more points in front of their fans in a key league fixture to keep pace at the top of the table.
For this match, coach José Mourinho has decided not to make any changes from the previous outing. The Portuguese manager is backing the same core group that featured in the last matchday against Real Sociedad.
In goal, Thibaut Courtois leads the list of goalkeepers, alongside Andriy Lunin and the young Javi Navarro, perhaps the only switch in the squad. In defense, there is once again a strong list of defenders, featuring names such as Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ibrahima Konaté, Antonio Rüdiger and Marc Cucurella.
Meanwhile, midfield will retain its usual blend of strength and creativity with players of the caliber of Jude Bellingham, Federico Valverde, Eduardo Camavinga and Bernardo Silva. They are joined by Arda Güler, Cestero and Alexis Ciria, offering further options to Madrid's setup.
In attack, firepower is guaranteed with the presence of Vinicius Jr. and Kylian Mbappé leading the line. The attacking call-up is completed by Brahim Díaz, C. Espí and Yan Diomande, all ready to provide energy from the bench.

#squad #blancos #sociedad

Real Madrid return to the Santiago Bernabeu tonight as they host Real Sociedad in their postponed Matchday 1 fixture, with Jose Mourinho looking to make it two La Liga wins from two.
Madrid opened their campaign with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Espanyol, where Jude Bellingham scored before summer signing Carlos Espi grabbed a dramatic late winner.
Mourinho will now take charge of his first competitive game at the Bernabeu since returning to the club. The manager still has several absentees to contend with.
Aurelien Tchouameni and Endrick remain unavailable after continuing to train away from the group, while Rodrygo, Eder Militao, Ferland Mendy, Raul Asencio and Thiago Pitarch are also out.
Mourinho has nevertheless named a strong 23-man squad, with Eduardo Camavinga available and youngsters Jorge Cestero, Alexis Ciria and Mario Rivas included.

#sociedad #liga

All of Real Madrid's transfer plans, at this point, depend directly on sales and the club have faced a dead end on that front.
After all, it is difficult to push for a player exit at a club of Real Madrid's stature where a contract with even a bench role is something players opt to push through.
Over the past month, Real Madrid have seen two players to be particularly transferable – Eduardo Camavinga and Raul Asencio – but both players have refused to leave and insist on proving their worth.
At this point, Real Madrid are in dire need of a new midfielder despite all that is being publicly portrayed. Camavinga's sale, on that front, is an essential prerequisite.
Camavinga has been exit-linked for a long time. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

#madrid #camavinga

Real Madrid have announced their squad list for Sunday's preseason friendly against Schalke 04, the last friendly of this year's preseason stage.
REAL MADRID SQUAD LIST:
Goalkeepers: Courtois, Lunin, and Illia.
Defenders: Huijsen, Trent, Konaté, Cucurella, Á. Carreras, Rüdiger, Dumfries, and Mario Rivas.
Midfielders: Bellingham, Camavinga, Valverde, Arda Güler, Bernardo, Cestero, and Alexis Ciria.
Forwards: Vini Jr., Mbappé, C. Espí, Brahim, and Diomande.
This time, Mourinho will have his stars at his disposal. Still, most of those players have only trained with the group for a couple of sessions, so they should not be expected to play heavy minutes.
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Date: 08/16/2026

#madrid #squad #list #lunin

A leading member of the midfield ranks at La Liga giants Real Madrid is expected to be afforded a starting berth in the club's season opener next weekend.
The Blancos star in question? Aurélien Tchouaméni.
Midfielder Tchouaméni is for his part fresh off a return to base in Spain's capital this week. After being afforded an extended break following his exploits with France at the World Cup, the former Monaco man is now at the direct disposal of new boss José Mourinho.
Tchouaméni, nevertheless, has to date been considered something of a doubt to play his part in Real Madrid's first fixture of the new campaign, against Espanyol on August 22nd.
The 26-year-old picked up a fitness problem during the World Cup, which, added to his late return to Valdebebas, led to suggestions that the likes of Eduardo Camavinga or Arda Güler could start in his place at the RCDE stadium.

#return

The Daily Merengue is a place where you can feel free to discuss all things football. Do not be alarmed by the overt RMCF bias. It's in the name! Shoutout to the mods who do a fantastic job, Ezek, Valyrian Steel, Felipejack, Juninho, NeRObutBlanco and yours truly, Kung_Fu_Zizou
Pre-Season was swallowed up by the Club World Cup last summer. This summer it has been disrupted by the World Cup. The desire to continuously invent football matches for eyeballs and revenue will always risk the quality of the game. The players who did not go to the World Cup or those who exited early will all have a decent pre-season. The players who went deep into the tournament not only have a shortened pre-season but will be back on international duty before long. The argument that the players are rich is one I will always find utterly unconvincing. What is noticeable is the decline in the quality of football and footballers in general. Managers desperately trying to reduce the game to automatisms in order to cover-up the dearth of unique individual quality in the game. Stats creating an Americanisation of the beautiful game. I do not know Maradona, Zidane and R9's stats. They're practically irrelevant to the beauty of the game. That aspect of the game is increasingly greyed out and becoming near impossible to access. I digress.. This is a mixed pre-season for Mourinho. He has had a chance to take a look at some of the youngsters and also the likes of Camavinga, Trent, Fede and Arda Guler. What he has not had the chance to do it have a look at a potential starting XI for the season with all his best players available. There are two friendlies remaining before La Liga kicks off for the 2026/27 season and Mourinho will still be intuiting his best XI for the season by then. The names are easy but the balance.. well, that's an entirely different matter altogether.
A true baller..Turkish Delight? The kid is awesome and has surpassed the expectations of many by merely still being at the club given every challenge he has faced every single season since his arrival. Arda Güler is a unique profile in the Real Madrid squad. He is a purely technical player while also having tactical awareness to make up for his physical short-comings.
Arda's story is one of perseverance. It is difficult enough to make it at Real Madrid without major obstacles but Arda has had to overcome injuries and lack of trust as well as rife competition in the squad. He has seemingly come out the other side, looking increasingly like the fabulous footballer we imagined upon his arrival in 2024. Mourinho will have to find a way to use Arda without upsetting the proverbial apple cart.
Thiago was seemingly in the window shop until apparently Jose Mourinho insisted that he remain at the club.

#club #Football

Supporters of La Liga heavyweights Real Madrid have moved to lavish praise on a long-criticised member of the club's midfield ranks on Saturday evening.
This comes owing to his exploits in the club's latest outing. Los Blancos are currently locked in action in the Hungarian capital of Budapest. Amid ongoing preparations for the new campaign, the Spanish side have travelled for a pre-season clash with Ferencváros.
José Mourinho picked an XI full of recognisable faces for the fixture, with the likes of Denzel Dumfries, Federico Valverde, Arda Güler and Endrick in from the off.
It is another member of Real's line-up, though, who has turned heads with the level of his performance in Budapest…
After being singled out for widespread criticism for his latest friendly showing against Fiorentina last time out, Eduardo Camavinga has looked a completely different player to this point in proceedings on Saturday.

#latest #liga #madrid

Real Madrid have published their starting lineup for the upcoming match against Ferencvaros, the second preseason friendly.
Real Madrid starting XI: Lunin, Dumfries, Martinez, Rivas, Carreras, Camavinga, Valverde, Güler, Ciria, Brahim, Endrick.
Ferencvaros starting XI: Dibusz, Osvath, Raemaekers, Gomez, Cadu, Corbu, Kanichowsky, Zachariassen, Levi, Yusuf, Joseph.
Mourinho will finally have some depth in this one, so it will be interesting to see if he uses his bench a bit more than he did last week against Fiorentina. Madrid will face Deportivo next Wednesday, so it will be important for the coaching staff to manage the legs of their players carefully.
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#lunin #dumfries #martinez #rivas

After two in-house friendlies, it was time to get on the road for a game against Fiorentina – in-front of a crowd for the first time since Mourinho's return. The Real Madrid XI: Lunin, Alexander-Arnold, Rivas, Martínez, Carreras, Camavinga, Valverde, Güler, Dumfries, Ciria, Endrick.
The first half was the best friendly display I have seen in some time. Madrid took to the occasion and peppered Fiorentina with waves of possession and chances to score. Dumfries was deployed in an advanced role, ahead of Trent – and saw plenty of the ball. Endrick would score the first goal, before Castilla gem Alexis Ciria doubled the lead. Fiorentina pulled a goal back just before the break.
Fiorentina made more changes over the break and into the second-half, but the tide turned as they scored the equaliser through Moises Keane. Madrid seemingly stepped off, and the game looked more even as result. 2-2 at full-time, and another good workout in the lungs filled with both positives and food for thought. Did you like the look of any player in-particular?

#madrid #dumfries #half

Real Madrid have published their starting lineup for the upcoming match against Fiorentina in what will be the first real game of the 2026 preseason.
Real Madrid starting XI: Lunin, Trent, Joan Martinez, Rivas, Carreras, Valverde, Camavinga, Dumfries, Ciria, Guler, Endrick.
Fiorentina starting XI: De Gea, Dodo, Dragusin, Ranieri, Mandragora, Ndour, ****** ioli, Brescianni, Atta, Gudmunsson, Kean.
Real Madrid will rely heavily on Arda Güler to create scoring opportunities today. Joan Martínez will get a good opportunity to showcase his talent in this game.
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#real

We have just reached half-time in Real Madrid's second pre-season match against Leganés. Real Madrid took to the field with the following line-up: Lunin, Alexander-Arnold, Huijsen, Asencio, Carreras, Camavinga, Valverde, Güler, Mastantuono, Ciria (Castilla), García. Attendance at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stéfano was restricted to journalists and staff, with new signing Denzel Dumfries amongst the few spectators.
After a slow start to proceedings, with Madrid maintaining possession at almost walking-speed – we ended up seeing a good amount of action. Arda Güler linked up with Fede Valverde for the first chance of the game, but the Uruguayan could not get his toe to the delicate pass. The same combination would later open the scoring, this time with a combination along the floor allowing Fede to poke the ball home. Madrid would make it two straight after a drinks break, when a trademark Trent Alexander-Arnold pass found Gonzalo García who **** ed the ball over the keeper to score. Trent was deployed very high up the pitch, and was a standout alongside Arda.
Leganés did pull a goal back with an unstoppable effort that left Andriy Lunin and his defence mesmerised. A great first-half test against a strong second division side – with the score currently reading 2-1 to the hosts ahead of the second period. Changes are expected at the break. Check out our socials for coverage for the remainder of the game.

#second #alexander #arda

The final few weeks of the summer transfer window will be busy for Real Madrid, with signings and exits expected. In terms of incomings, Yan Diomande and Rodri are wanted, while there are several first team players that have been earmarked as candidates to leave before the end of next month.
Raul Asencio, Eduardo Camavinga and Franco Mastantuono (loan) are players that Real Madrid want to move on, while they could also be convinced to sell Gonzalo Garcia amid strong interest from Alvaro Arbeloa's Fulham. The La Fabrica graduate would bring in much-needed funds in the event that Diomande and Rodri are signed, although head coach Jose Mourinho would prefer him to remain at the Bernabeu.
Mourinho considers Gonzalo to be a differential option in attack. He's the closest thing that Real Madrid have to a target forward, and if the decision is eventually made for him to stay, it could mean that a different attacking player departs in his place.
That player could be Endrick. Despite reports earlier in the summer that Mourinho wanted to keep the Brazil international in his squad for the 2026-27 season, Marca have reported that Real Madrid are now considering whether to loan him out again.
Real Madrid see Endrick as one of their biggest stars for the future, but right now, his chances of regular playing time look slim – especially if Diomande joins, as expected. There are fears that his development will be stunted if he does not feature prominently, which is why club bosses are considering whether to send him on loan for the second successive transfer window.

#diomande #endrick #transfer

Madridistas got their first look at Jose Mourinho 2.0's Real Madrid as the side took on Primera RFEF opponents AD Alcorcón at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stéfano on Friday evening, with Dani Yáñez scoring the only goal of the game from the penalty spot.
The first 20 minutes of action were open for journalists and viewers on Real Madrid TV, with a series of substitutions meaning that this game was entirely focused on building fitness for those who weren't involved in this summer's World Cup.
Here, we run through some of the takeaways from the short sighting of action.
The line-up which started this game featured Andriy Lunin in goal, a strong defensive unit of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dean Huijsen, Raúl Asencio and Álvaro Carreras, but much weaker midfield and attacking depth where the trios were formed by Thiago Cestero, Eduardo Camavinga and Arda Güler and in attack by Franco Mastantuono, Gonzalo García and Gabri Valero. The club reported that the XI on the field at the time of the final whistle were all players from Castilla and the club's youth teams.
While the available first team players were always likely to have a strong influence on how Jose Mourinho set his team up here, it was intriguing to see that Real Madrid began pre-season with a 4-3-3 shape. The system was what worked so well in Mourinho's previous stint at the club, although he operated more regularly with a 4-2-3-1 with Benfica last season. At times, this shape did shift to look like a 4-2-3-1, with Güler stepping forward ahead of Cestero and Camavinga, and showing some of the tactical versatility that could be a point to watch in pre-season.

#season

On this La Liga Tier Members-only episode of the Managing Madrid Podcast, Kiyan Sobhani, Lucas Navarrete, and Sam Sharpe — along with La Liga Tier Members live on the call — discuss:
The case for and against signing Rodri
A discussing about the development of Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga
The best double pivot options at Jose Mourinho’s disposal
And a ton more.

#Managing #madrid #kiyan #sobhani

An up-and-coming member of the midfield ranks at La Liga giants Real Madrid was a surprise inclusion in first-team training on Monday.
Los Blancos, for those not aware, got their preparations for the new campaign up and running earlier today.
With the José Mourinho era now in full effect in Spain's capital, the club's senior players not called upon for international duty at the World Cup were summoned to Valdebebas for pre-season training.
Alongside the likes of Dean Huijsen, Eduardo Camavinga and Trent Alexander-Arnold, though, were a host of academy talents, too.
Short on numbers for the session, Mourinho and his staff drafted in some of the most highly-regarded youngsters currently making their way through La Fábrica.

Real Madrid officially opened preparations for the 2026-27 season on Monday, with José Mourinho leading his first preseason training session since returning to the club.
The day began with the usual medical and fitness examinations at the club's medical facilities before the available members of the squad reported to Real Madrid City for their first workout of the summer.
With many first-team players either still involved in the 2026 FIFA World Cup or only recently returning from international duty, Mourinho worked with a limited group consisting of Andriy Lunin, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dean Huijsen, Raúl Asencio, Álvaro Carreras, Eduardo Camavinga, Franco Mastantuono, and Gonzalo García. A number of academy players were also called up to supplement the session.
After an introductory team talk from Mourinho, the squad began with gym work before moving onto the training pitch for activation exercises that combined physical conditioning with ball work.
The session then progressed into high-intensity possession drills under pressure, followed by finishing exercises on small goals. Training concluded with several small-sided matches on reduced-size pitches as Mourinho looked to reintroduce players to competitive game situations after the summer break.

Real Madrid's pre-season is set to begin today, and one of the first-team players who will be working with Jose Mourinho from day one is Eduardo Camavinga.
The French midfielder has not enjoyed the best years of his career recently and has had a lot of ups and downs in terms of both form and fitness.
As a result of his inconsistency and dip in form, Los Blancos have labelled him as a transferable player for the ongoing summer transfer window as they look to generate funds to continue their arrival operations.
In recent weeks, however, matters have seemingly cooled down and the intensity of exit rumours have taken a step back.
As reported by Fabrizio Romano now, Camavinga is in high demand and there are several clubs, especially from the Premier League, who have lined up as potential suitors at his doorstep.

The French midfielder Eduardo Camavinga is one of the players with his future at Real Madrid highly uncertain. He has not been able to meet the expectations that the Merengue club had put on him when they signed him as a highly promising youngster from Rennes, and the club believes his growth has stunted in the last few years.
In fact, he was directly at fault as Los Blancos saw their UEFA Champions League hopes end last season. The Frenchman's haggling with the ball for a couple of seconds after a whistle caused the referee to shown him a second yellow card in the quarter-final tie against Bayern Munich, which made it impossible for Real Madrid to compete in a highly demanding game.
As a result, he has been put on the market by the Madrid club, but the new coach Jose Mourinho would make a final decision about him. Meanwhile, the player looks committed to impress the new coach and continue at the Merengue club.
As SPORT has reported, citing the journalist Alvaro Esteban, a clear indication of this was his presence at Valdebebas on Friday, the same day as Mourinho visited the club facilities in the first day of his second stint as the Los Blancos' manager. Thus, the Frenchman returned to train at the club a few days before the team is set to begin its preseason training, i.e., on Monday, 13th July.
The French midfielder also enjoys quite a lot of demand in the market. Big clubs like Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City, Chelsea, and Liverpool have all been closely watching him lately.

Liverpool are set to make big midfield alterations this summer.
There is uncertainty around several of their midfielders - including Curtis Jones, Alexis Mac Allister and Stefan Bajcetic. Jones, 25, is a target for Inter Milan and Nottingham Forest - and if no new contract is agreed then expect him to be moved on.
Macca, meanwhile, is back on the radar for Real Madrid with the Spanish capital side set to sell Eduardo Camavinga.
And although Bajcetic is a tier below the other two in terms of his experience he too could be sold with Sevilla now coming into the reckoning for a bargain deal.
It’s now being reported in Brazil that Liverpool as well as Manchester United are seeking to take advantage of a breakdown in the deal that was supposed to take Joao Gomes to Atletico Madrid.

Claude Makelele has used an interview with DAZN to back Aurélien Tchouaméni as Real Madrid's most reliable performer of the past season, defend Kylian Mbappé from his critics, and identify the specific midfield profile Los Blancos are still lacking under José Mourinho.
The former Madrid holding midfielder was unambiguous in his ***** sment of Tchouaméni's campaign, telling DAZN: "Tchouameni was the only consistent player from beginning to end." It is a notable endorsement given the scrutiny Tchouaméni has faced at various points since his arrival from Monaco, including the well-publicised friction with Fede Valverde earlier this year.
Makelele's backing also carries weight in the context of Madrid's transfer planning. Reports from earlier in the summer indicated Tchouaméni's future was part of broader squad restructuring discussions, with Tchouaméni and Camavinga named in connection with potential movement as the club pursued Michael Olise. Makelele's public endorsement complicates any case for moving him on.
Makelele expressed confidence in Mourinho's return to the Bernabéu while making clear that elite coaching alone will not be sufficient. "Mourinho isn't stupid, he's a good coach, one of the best coaches," he told DAZN. "He knows he's going to need a strong team to win La Liga."
That caveat feeds directly into what Makelele regards as Madrid's most pressing structural problem: the absence of a midfielder who can carry the ball through pressure and connect quickly with the front line. "At Real Madrid, there isn't that type of midfielder who carries the ball and breaks lines," he said. "They need a player like that, who can deliver quick passes to the attackers, to himself, to Vinicius Junior, and to the players up front." It is the kind of profile Mourinho himself prioritised during his first spell at Madrid, when Ángel Di María and Mesut Özil provided exactly that vertical link between midfield and attack.

Liverpool have moved early in this transfer window, but the bigger picture remains fairly simple. One senior signing, plenty of links, and a lot of noise. Victor Munoz has arrived for £34.5 million as Andoni Iraola begins work, but beyond that, the club are still in **** sment mode while rivals push ahead.
One of the more interesting situations now centres on Darren Motsi. The Leicester City midfielder, still only 15, has already played above his age group and produced strong numbers in youth football. His return last season, three goals and two **** ists in 19 appearances for Leicester Under-21s, plus three goals and two **** ists in 11 Premier League 2 matches, explains why clubs are circling.
Reports had pointed towards Liverpool as the likely destination after Motsi decided to leave Leicester. That now looks less straightforward. According to Talent ID Hub, Tottenham have entered the race and could yet disrupt Liverpool's plans.
This is where context matters. Liverpool are being linked with everyone from Gilberto Mora to Bradley Barcola, Eduardo Camavinga, Said El Mala, Ayyoub Bouaddi and Antonio Nusa. Some of those names are plausible, some are not, and some may simply be part of the usual market churn. Yan Diomande appears to be heading elsewhere if recent reports are accurate, while decisions on players such as Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott may shape what Liverpool do next.
Against that backdrop, Motsi would represent a longer-term investment rather than an immediate first-team solution. Clubs that recruit well do not ignore that market. They attack it early, and they do it with conviction.