Brahim Díaz

By: Ben Dixon Recruiting from Real Madrid often brings plenty of benefits and AC Milan are aware of this. However, there are normally setbacks. In recent years, Milan have not shied away from making signings from the Spanish giants. In fact, they have regularly worked well with the Galacticos to make deals. Unfortunately, they are often more one-sided […] The post ‘Not in pole position’ – Moretto states that Milan like Valdepenas but there is a problem appeared first on SempreMilan.

Is Kylian Mbappe a curse for Real Madrid? Following their aggregate defeat to Bayern Munich, Los Blancos face a managerial crisis and a squad regression that Florentino Perez must answer for. The fallout from Real Madrid’s 6-4 aggregate defeat against Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-final will inevitably rumble on for several weeks. The competition was Madrid’s last realistic route to major silverware in a season which promised a lot, but will ultimately deliver nothing. Barring a monumental collapse by Barcelona in La Liga, the 15-time European champions will end a second consecutive campaign without a trophy. With that in mind, read on as we assess the repercussions for Real Madrid, starting with an issue which has been entirely of their own making. Mbappe has proved to be a curse rather than a blessing Kylian Mbappe is one of the best forwards in the world. That point is evidenced by his tally of 84 goals in 98 appearances for Los Blancos. However, his desire to be the ‘main man’ is not only a problem Madrid didn’t need, but one which they could have avoided. Mbappe scored 256 goals in 308 for Paris Saint-Germain. However, his efforts in front of goal failed to deliver the desired results in the Champions League. In their first season without the French international in their team, PSG were crowned kings of Europe. They have reached the semi-finals again this season. By contrast, Mbappe has made Madrid worse. They won La Liga and the Champions League in 20234/24 – since then, they have suffered a series of disappointments. The 27-year-old’s ego was problematic when he was at PSG, and has continued to upset the equilibrium in Madrid’s dressing room. Players such as Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior are no shrinking violets, yet are expected to play second fiddle to the ‘Mbappe Show’. Intriguingly, Madrid looked far more coherent as a team when Mbappe was recently sidelined with a knee injury. With Vinicius and Brahim Diaz leading the line, they were more balanced. It may seem churlish to question a player who has scored goals for fun in Madrid colours, but it cannot be ignored that they have regressed since signing him. Arbeloa on shaky ground after Champions League exit Madrid’s decision to appoint Xabi Alonso as manager last summer appeared to be a sensible decision with SportsView and other major football publications all predicting success for Los Blancos, but he lasted just seven months. At a club packed with egos and led by president Florentino Perez, the former Bayer Leverkusen boss was always likely to be on a hiding to nothing. Alonso quickly lost the dressing room, with Vinicius and Federico Valverde amongst the players who publicly expressed disapproval at his methods. Appointing Alvaro Arbeloa as Alonso’s replacement was no real surprise. He had done well with the club’s youth and ‘B’ teams, so was viewed as a steady pair of hands. Arbeloa responded to Flick’s comments However, the club’s failure to specify the length of his contract when he was placed in charge suggested that they were unsure whether he was the right man for the job. A record of 13 wins and one draw in 21 matches highlights why Madrid may have been reluctant to confirm whether he was a long-term appointment. Arbeloa will reportedly be replaced this summer, with Perez seemingly eager to bring in someone with a proven track record of success. That may be easier said than done given the dearth of viable options currently available. Madrid’s managerial options are thin on the ground Alonso seemed to be the ideal fit for Madrid. He was a former player who subsequently enjoyed success as a manager with Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga. Sacking him after just seven months in charge did not seem like the brightest idea anyone had ever had, and developments this summer may hammer home that point. Several managers have been linked with the Madrid managerial job including Zinedine Zidane, Jurgen Klopp and Maurico Pochettino. Perez rates Zidane highly, but he seems destined to replace Didier Deschamps as the French national team manager at the end of the World Cup. Klopp would be welcomed with open arms at the Santiago Bernabeu, but has demonstrated no desire to leave his position as head of Red Bull’s football operations. Pochettino could be available after the World Cup, although nothing he has done with the United States national team suggests he is the right option for Madrid. Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola has been touted as a possibility after the club recently confirmed he will be leaving at the end of the season. Several pundits believe the 43-year-old is an ‘elite-level’ manager, but whether he is ready to step into the Madrid hot-seat is hugely debatable. Madrid’s eagerness to pander to egotistical players and dispense with Alonso’s services has created a problem that may find extremely difficult to fix this summer.

Un'operazione difficile, ma tutt'altro che impossibile. Secondo quanto scrive Repubblica l'Inter in estate farà un tentativo per Nico Paz, gioiellino del Como, che in questa stagione ha segnato 11 goal, contribuendo alla grande stagione della squadra allenata di Fabregas. Un'idea che può diventare una trattativa solo se ci sarà un'apertura da parte del Real Madrid, che controlla il suo cartellino e che a fine stagione eserciterà il diritto di riacquisto. Ma la sua permanenza a Madrid è tutt'altro che scontata. IL COSTO DELLA RECOMPRA Nico Paz si è trasferito al Como nell'estate 2024 a titolo definitivo per 6 milioni di euro, firmando un contratto quinquennale fino al 2028. Al contempo però il Real Madrid si è assicurato il 50% sulla futura rivendita del giocatore, più la possibilità di riacquistarlo a cifre definite per tre sessioni di mercato estive: 8 milioni nel 2025, 9 milioni nel 2026 e 10 nel 2027. Non è da escludere che i blancos possano pagarlo di più per riportato a casa, aggiungendo alla cifra già decisa dai contratti, ovvero 9 milioni di euro, una sorta di "premio di valorizzazione". Il Como infatti la scorsa estate poteva guadagnarci di più dalla cessione del talento argentino ma ha respinto una ricca proposta del Tottenham da 65 milioni di euro più 10 di bonus. IL REAL MADRID VENDE NICO PAZ? Il Real Madrid resta una possibilità per Nico Paz, che a giugno volerà negli Stati Uniti per giocare il Mondiale con l'Argentina, ma a oggi è un'incognita. Dopo una stagione fallimentare da zero titoli, con Xabi Alonso e Arbeloa in panchina, in estate ci sarà una rivoluzione. Servirà fare cassa per finanziare i nuovi acquisti e il nome di Nico Paz potrebbe finire sulla lista dei partenti. Toccherà al nuovo allenatore esprimere una preferenza: là davanti di certo c'è tanta scelta, da Rodrygo a Vinicius, da Mastantuono ad Arda Guler, da Brahim Diaz a Endrick, di rientro da Lione. Qualcuno è di troppo. Secondo Repubblica l'Inter vorrebbe usare i soldi dalla cessione di Bastoni al Barcellona per Nico Paz, valutato dal Real Madrid almeno 50 milioni di euro. Il gancio è il vicepresidente Javier Zanetti, amico del padre Pablo, già suo compagno in nazionale argentina. Il feeling tra Nico Paz e il mondo Inter è reale: la dimostrazione sta nella foto postata su Instagram da Paula de la Fuente, moglie di Zanetti, dopo la cena del trequartista argentino, assieme al padre e un'altra leggenda nerazzurra come Diego Milito, al ristorante milanese Botinero del vice-presidente e bandiera nerazzurra. Tra Inter e Real Madrid c'è il Como, che in caso di qualificazione alla prossima Champions League farà un tentativo per trattenerlo ancora una stagione in riva al lago.

Real Madrid bowed out of this season’s Champions League on Wednesday, as they went down 4-3 to Bayern Munich in the second leg of their quarter-final tie, which ensured a 6-4 defeat on aggregate for Alvaro Arbeloa’s side. Andriy Lunin – 5 He may have made a couple of good saves to keep Bayern at […] The post Real Madrid player ratings against Bayern Munich: Arda Guler shines on disappointing night appeared first on Football España.

Real Madrid faced off against Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena earlier tonight as they hoped to secure a win on the road in the UEFA Champions League. Los Blancos made a dream start to the game as they scored the opener in the first minute when Arda Guler found the back of the net. […] The post Mbappe And Bellingham Get 7.5 | Real Madrid Players Rated In Tough Loss Vs Bayern Munich appeared first on The 4th Official - A view from the sideline.

Emozioni e spettacolo al ritorno degli ottavi di finale in Champions League.

Following the tight result in the first leg, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid are preparing to face off in the second leg of the 2025–26 Champions League quarterfinals. As a result, fans are closely monitoring the status of Kylian Mbappé, as his presence could be decisive in front of goal. Despite being inferior for much of the first leg, Real Madrid still hold hope of overturning the result against Bayern Munich, as they trail by just one goal. Given the narrow scoreline, both sides expect a contested game, with an offensive approach dominating. Moreover, fans are closely monitoring the status of Kylian Mbappé as his presence could prove in the Champions League Quarterfinals. After avoiding injuries in recent matches, Kylian Mbappé is in peak physical condition. Because of this, coach Álvaro Arbeloa will start the Frenchman, hoping his scoring impact will help overturn the result. In addition, he was decisive in the first leg, so another standout performance is expected. With this, he could look to silence the criticism surrounding his season, which has otherwise been impressive. Alongside the Frenchman, Real Madrid will once again rely on the partnership with Vinícius Jr. However, the absence of Aurélien Tchouaméni due to yellow card accumulation will force adjustments in the starting lineup, such as deploying Jude Bellingham and Federico Valverde at the base of midfield. As a result, Brahim Díaz could take on a key role, aiming to exploit spaces in the opposition’s midfield. Bayern Munich will also have most of their squad available, with Harry Kane and Manuel Neuer returning to top form. After dominating in the first leg, coach Vincent Kompany may opt not to make changes to his starting lineup, as he confirmed that Serge Gnabry is fit enough to play 120 minutes if needed. In addition, Konrad Laimer and Josip Stanišić could once again play key roles, contributing to the team’s build-up play. Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid attempts to shoot past Manuel Neuer of FC Bayern Munich. Bayern Munich predicted lineups vs Real Madrid After their dominant performance in the first leg, Bayern Munich face Real Madrid as clear favorites. Coach Vincent Kompany will be without Lennart Karl and Sven Ulreich. However, the German side will rely on Kane, Michael Olise, Serge Gnabry, and Neuer as their core, maintaining their consistency. Despite this, they will face a tough challenge in defending space in behind, as Mbappé and Vinícius could use their pace to make the difference. The German side could lineup as follows: Manuel Neuer; Josip Stanišić, Dayot Upamecano, Jonathan Tah, Konrad Laimer; Joshua Kimmich, Aleksandar Pavlović; Michael Olise, Serge Gnabry, Luis Díaz; Harry Kane. Real Madrid lineups vs Bayern Munich Although they didn’t dominate the first leg, Real Madrid managed to be quite efficient, thanks to Kylian Mbappé. However, coach Álvaro Arbeloa will be forced to make changes to his lineup, as Aurelien Tchouameni will be out due to yellow card accumulation. As a result, they will start Valverde as a defensive midfielder. Following that, Arda Guler and Brahim will be responsible for linking the midfield and the attack. With this in mind, Real Madrid will play as follows: Andriy Lunin; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Éder Militão, Antonio Rüdiger, Ferland Mendy; Brahim Diaz, Federico Valverde, Jude Bellingham, Arda Guler; Vinicius Jr, Kylian Mbappé.

Following an impressive debut with Olympique Lyon, Real Madrid have reportedly decided to bring Endrick back, teaming him with Vinícius Jr. and Kylian Mbappé. Consequently, los Blancos might allow another offensive star to depart in an effort to balance the roster. After struggling for playing time under Xabi Alonso, Endrick and Real Madrid have reportedly agreed to a loan move to boost his 2026 World Cup chances with Brazil national team. Seizing this opportunity, the 19-year-old striker has thrived at Olympique Lyon. As a result, Los Blancos reportedly plan to count on his return for the 2026-27 season, joining Vinícius Jr. and Kylian Mbappé in the attacking line. According to Mario Cortegana, via The Athletic, Real Madrid have decided to count on Endrick for the 2026–27 season. With this, the Brazilian would end his loan spell at Olympique Lyon at the end of the season, in order to become part of Los Blancos’ attacking line. Despite this, he may not be an undisputed starter, but instead earn playing time as a backup to Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappé, though with a more prominent role than in his previous spell. With Endrick’s return reportedly decided, Los Blancos have opted not to count on Gonzalo García. Although the Spaniard impressed at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, he has not managed to secure a place in the team’s rotation. In an effort to prioritize his development, Real Madrid would look to sell him so he can gain playing time, while still maintaining control over his future through a buy-back clause, a percentage of any future sale, or a right of first refusal. Unlike Gonzalo García, the Brazilian striker may be compatible with Vinicius and Kylian Mbappé. Having a privileged vision and creative capacity, Endrick could become a wildcard for Real Madrid’s offense. In his Ligue One tenure, he has scored three goals and contributed five assists in eleven games, proving to be differential. For that reason, he could emerge as a solid boost to the offense, as they have battled to perform this season without the Frenchman. Olympique Lyon star Endrick, loaned by Real Madrid. Endrick’s comeback may lead a Real Madrid’s offense rebuild Throughout the 2025-26 season, Real Madrid have experienced quite inconsistent performances from several of their players. Not only Gonzalo García but also Franco Mastantuono and Rodrygo Goes have been relegated to secondary roles. Because of this, Los Blancos could take advantage of Endrick’s return to lead a rebuild of their attack, allowing some players to leave in order to maintain balance. In case Endrick’s arrival is confirmed, Gonzalo García would leave the team permanently, with Como 1907 in Serie A showing interest, along with clubs from England, Germany, Spain, and Portugal, according to Fabrizio Romano. Alongside him, Franco Mastantuono could seek a loan move after losing his place to Brahim Díaz and Federico Valverde in the rotation. Rodrygo Goes seemed destined to leave Real Madrid, as he went from an undisputed starter to a rotational player. However, his ACL injury could complicate his departure, as he may look to fully recover at Los Blancos and then decide his future. Because of this, the team’s reinforcements seem likely to focus on defense and midfield, leaving only Endrick’s return as the main attacking addition for the next season.

By: Oliver Fisher AC Milan are working on planning for next season, both on the renewals front and also the new signings that will arrive. Today’s Repubblica (via MilanNews) has a headline which reads: ‘Valdepeñas idea for the Milan of the future’. While everyone at Milanello is only thinking about the present and tonight’s match against Udinese, at […] The post Repubblica: Valdepeñas and Modric renewal – Milan keep Real Madrid axis alive appeared first on SempreMilan.

It’s neck and neck at the top of La Liga as Real Madrid kept up the pressure on leaders Barcelona with a 2-0 win away at third placed Villarreal while Barca put last week’s slip up behind them with a 3-0 win over Real Oviedo at the Camp Nou. Gary and Alex look at another two goals for the rampant Kylian Mbappe, including a panenka penalty he awkwardly dedicated to teammate Brahim Diaz, and there’s an absolute stunner from Lamine Yamal to enjoy too. It’s transfer season and rumours have begun to swirl over Trent Alexander-Arnold’s future at Real Madrid, with some reports suggesting he could be on the way out in the summer. Gary and Alex look at the England international’s difficult first six months in Madrid and assess his chances of turning his fortunes around as we approach the world cup. There’s more transfer talk on the other half of Madrid with Atletico’s Julian Alvarez linked with a return to the Premier League in what would be a sensational January move to Arsenal. Diego Simeone has publicly backed the underperforming former Man City man but could the move be the thing that would finally get the Gunners over the line in their quest to win the Premier League title? Join The Players Lounge: The official fantasy football club of The Rest Is Football. It’s time to take on Gary, Alan and Micah for the chance to win monthly prizes and shoutouts on the pod. It’s FREE to join and as a member, you’ll get access to exclusive tips from Fantasy Football Hub including AI-powered team ratings, transfer tips, and expert team reveals to help you climb the table - plus access to our private Slack community. Sign up today at therestisfootball.com https://therestisfootball.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=episode_description&utm_content=link_cta For more Goalhanger Podcasts, head to www.goalhanger.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices