Ciao, Mourinho. The Ancelotti era has now begun.
Real Madrid have signed Isco this off-season, adding one of Spain's best young players to the roster (and, perhaps, one of the world's best young players, as Isco won the Golden Boy Award in 2012). For 30 million euros, it is a brilliant signing for the future of the club.
In the last few days, Real Madrid has also been linked to Illarramendi, the 23-year-old midfielder from Real Sociedad. Illarramendi had a break-out campaign last year, helping Real Sociedad qualify for a Champions League position and then performing at a very high level for Spain's U-21 European Championship team that won the title.
In another move to skew younger and more Spanish, Real Madrid bought back the 21-year-old defender Daniel Carvajal from Leverkusen.
With these moves, it appears like Callejon is headed out. Napoles seems positioned to sign him for 10 million euros or so. And, after multiple seasons fighting with Benzema for playing time, it appears like Higuian is looking for a new challenge. Arsenal is currently rumored to land him.
I think Madrid may dump some players, if they can. Albiol is very likely to leave, whereas Kaka and Coentrao may go if someone is willing to pay for them (and pay their high salaries).
The team could end up with a starting line-up that looks like this:
---------------Casillas---------------
Carvajal-Ramos-Varane-Marcelo
---Xabi Alonso---Illarramendi---
-----Isco---Ozil----Ronaldo-----
---------------Benzema---------------
Bench: Modric, Di Maria, Khedira, Pepe
Real Madrid have signed Isco this off-season, adding one of Spain's best young players to the roster (and, perhaps, one of the world's best young players, as Isco won the Golden Boy Award in 2012). For 30 million euros, it is a brilliant signing for the future of the club.
In the last few days, Real Madrid has also been linked to Illarramendi, the 23-year-old midfielder from Real Sociedad. Illarramendi had a break-out campaign last year, helping Real Sociedad qualify for a Champions League position and then performing at a very high level for Spain's U-21 European Championship team that won the title.
In another move to skew younger and more Spanish, Real Madrid bought back the 21-year-old defender Daniel Carvajal from Leverkusen.
With these moves, it appears like Callejon is headed out. Napoles seems positioned to sign him for 10 million euros or so. And, after multiple seasons fighting with Benzema for playing time, it appears like Higuian is looking for a new challenge. Arsenal is currently rumored to land him.
I think Madrid may dump some players, if they can. Albiol is very likely to leave, whereas Kaka and Coentrao may go if someone is willing to pay for them (and pay their high salaries).
The team could end up with a starting line-up that looks like this:
---------------Casillas---------------
Carvajal-Ramos-Varane-Marcelo
---Xabi Alonso---Illarramendi---
-----Isco---Ozil----Ronaldo-----
---------------Benzema---------------
Bench: Modric, Di Maria, Khedira, Pepe