Real Madrid are gradually returning to normality after an intense international break in which they lost up to 16 players who, added to the injured, left only Lucas Vázquez available for training. The injuries have been a real burden throughout the season for the Whites, especially in defence, but they also lost one of their key players this season, who is already finalising his return.
Dani Ceballos was injured in the match against Real Sociedad in a clash with Kubo just when the Utrera-born player was at his best. Many wanted to sell him in the summer, but he has shown that he has more than enough talent to be the new Kroos that Real Madrid has been looking for. Initially, a period of inactivity was stipulated that would see him in the dry dock for more than two months, but the player’s goal is to be ready for the match against Arsenal in London, thus shortening the time frame.
A signing for the midfield
Despite Ceballos’ good performance, the midfield is one of those positions that has felt orphaned for a long time. Since Toni Kroos left Real Madrid there has always been a feeling of emptiness. Despite the good performances shown in recent weeks by players such as Tchouaménin, Modric and Camavinga, as well as, before his injury, Dani Ceballos, since the departure of Kroos, the Whites have felt a void that is difficult to fill. The German star was the compass for his team-mates, playing a fundamental role in the double crown of La Liga and the Champions League achieved last season.
Arsenal take the lead with Zubimendi
The main obstacle for the Merengue team in signing Zubimendi, apart from the fact that it would not comply with the policy of signing very young players, is Arsenal’s interest. From England they report that the London club is ahead in the negotiations and that they are in a position to pay his release clause of 60 million euros. The departure of Jorginho and Thomas Partey at the end of the league season forces the Gunners to strengthen their midfield, and that is why Mikel Arteta sees Zubimendi as the ideal man to occupy the midfield alongside Martin Ødegaard and Mikel Merino, former teammates of the San Sebastian-born player at Real Sociedad.
The Basque club and the player himself decided to postpone a hypothetical winter departure pending an operation in the summer that seems to be taking shape in this sense, but the white team has the expectation that the footballer Zubimendi can choose to, as he did with Liverpool, continue his career at Real Sociedad or consider departures pending a transfer that will take him to Arsenal.
Objective: to rejuvenate the squad
A great performance that reinforces the signing policy carried out by the Whites in recent years. Little by little, Real Madrid is shaping its project for the 2025-2026 season. An ambitious project in which the main premise is the rejuvenation of the squad. Rejuvenating a squad that, right now, has an average age of 27, almost the limit of what is usually considered ideal.
As we said, in recent years the club has been implementing this policy of seeking out young talent and, with varying degrees of success, Real Madrid has signed players such as Take Kubo, Martin Odegaard, Vinicius Júnior, Rodrygo, Reinier, Eduardo Camavinga, Arda Güler and Endrick. Several of them have already established themselves in the first team and won titles with the white shirt.
New target for midfield
Real Madrid have set their sights on Enzo Millot. An attacking midfielder for whom he will face fierce competition from two Premier League teams: Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal. Returning to the profile of this young attacking midfielder, whose link with the German team expires in June 2028, it should be noted that his buy-out clause stands at €20 million. In other words, an affordable sum of money.
Millot is only 22 years old and is an attacking midfielder who also has a certain scoring ability. His numbers prove it, as in 37 games played this season he has found the net eight times and has seven assists to his credit. Calafat has already gone to see him in Germany several times. In addition, the player has already hinted on more than one occasion that he wants to leave the MHPArena.