Real Madrid round-up: Odegaard, Bale, Kroos, Pogba...
The two internationals are back at Valdebebas, while former president Calderón has a pop at Pérez over Pogba and Sissoko flutters his eyelashes.
Odegaard holding out for Anfield
Along with Marcos Llorente and Mariano, the Norway midfielder has outgrown Castilla and will be loaned out for the 2016-17 season. Odegaard has offers from the Bundesliga in the shape of Leverkusen and Hamburg and Real are keen on that arrangement after Dani Carvajal’s successful spell at the BayArena and the recent loan of Borja Mayoral to Wolfsburg. However, the player and his father are happy to play a waiting game to see if Jürgen Klopp will make a move for Odegaard, who was close to joining Liverpool before eventually signing for Madrid in 2015.
Calderón’s Pogba put-down
The former Real Madrid president, always attentive to a chance to criticize the current regime, gave a crisp opinion on why Paul Pogba did not arrive at the Bernabéu this summer: “Because the club doesn’t have enough money to pay for him or because the player didn’t want to join.”
Bale and Kroos back in the fold
With the European Supercup against Sevilla a few days away, Zidane has called up six Castilla players to the B list for the match as he awaits the return of some of his star names and attempts to fill gaps in the squad caused by injuries. Good news for the Frenchman then is the return to training on Saturday afternoon of Luka Modric and Gareth Bale.
Sissoko loco for Madrid
“Who would not be flattered by interest from one of the best clubs in the world, if not the best? To grow under the orders of Zinedine Zidane would be amazing,” the Newcastle United midfielder told L’Equipe. In football parlance, that would be a come and get me plea. Rafa Benítez said on Friday that he’d rather not have “unhappy” players on his hands, so if Real can come up with around 30 million euros he’ll be happy enough to get Sissoko off his.
Andrea Favilli
Real Madrid are apparently interested in signing 19-year-old Livorno striker Andrea Favelli, who banged in 20 goals for Juve’s youth team last season and made his Serie A debut, replacing Álvaro Morata. Madrid were impressed by the youngster’s performances for Italy at the European under-19 Championships and will battle Milan and Inter for the striker’s signature.