Real Madrid round-up: Ronaldo, James, Bernardo Silva, Auba...
Carlo Ancelotti has made his predictions for the Liga title and top scorer, while James, Bernardo Silva and Aubameyang occupy the transfer headlines.
James Rodríguez
With less than 48 hours of the transfer window remaining rumours abound about the Bernabéu fate of the marginalized Colombia star. The UK media is continuing to link Rodríguez with a move to Antonio Conte’s Chelsea, who are equally keen to offload Cesc Fábregas, However, an unlikely move to the Bernabéu has been ruled out by the Real honchos, who have understandable reservations about the Spain international’s ability to blend into the side’s swift-moving attack.
Bernardo Silva
According to reports in France, the Bernabéu board are considering a move for Monaco midfielder Bernardo Silva in the case that Rodríguez decides to cut his losses in Madrid. The 22-year-old missed out on Portugal’s triumphant Euro 2016 campaign with a hamstring injury but has scored twice already this season, once against Villarreal in the Champions League playoffs and in Monaco’s Ligue 1 opener against Guingamp. Silva is valued at around 15 million euros.
Carlo Ancelotti
The Bayern Munich boss has tipped Real Madrid to win La Liga and Cristiano Ronaldo to end the season with the Pichichi trophy as the division’s top scorer to add to his Madeira museum. A flutter on the double? You can get odds of 11/4 on Ronaldo adding a fourth Pichichi gong to his 2010-11, 2013-14 and 2014-15 awards, while Real are widely priced as 6/4 second favourites to lift the title behind Barcelona.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Another player apparently watching his phone over the next two days is the Dortmund forward, whose comments in February to L’Equipe are doing the rounds again: “I promised my grandfather before he died that I’d play for Madrid,” the Gabon international said. Concerns over Karim Benzema’s fitness struggles may spark Real into action but Dortmund are likely to be unwilling dance partners after losing Ilkay Gündogan, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Mats Hummels already this summer. Aubameyang has also started this season as he ended the last, scoring both goals in the opening day win over Mainz.