Real Madrid round up: Sergio Díaz, Club World Cup, Lunin...
Our daily round up of the news surrounding Julen Lopetegui's team, who have two days of training in Valdebebas before they jet out to the United States this weekend.
Week 17 meeting with Villarreal to be rearranged
Real Madrid's participation in this year's Club World Cup in the United Arab Emirates means that a new date must be found for their league meeting with Villarreal on the last weekend of domestic action in 2018. Madrid's first game at the Club World Cup is on Wednesday 19 December but they will be probably fly out to the Middle East a few day's before that on the Sunday or Monday. The final takes place Zayed Sports City International Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Saturday 22 December - the same weekend when Madrid were due to play Villarreal at Estadio de la Cerámica.
Fair Play award presented
Immediately after the 2018/19 LaLiga fixtures were drawn in Las Rozas yesterday, the RFEF presented Real Madrid with the Fair Play award for ending the campaign with the best disciplinary record. Madrid finished the season on 76 points, just pipping Real Sociedad to the award - the Basques ending on 77 points.
Sergio Díaz loan option
Corinthians are reported to be keen on taking Real Madrid Castilla striker Sergio Díaz on a season-long loan. The 20-year-old has been out of action since November last year when he suffered an ACL and meniscus tear during his loan stint at CD Lugo. He's in the final stage of his recovery and both Huracán and Corinthians have been monitoring his situation but it is looking like the Brazilian side are closer to getting their man.
Madrid target Rodrigo
Lopetegui is looking to beef up his attack by bringing in a striker and according to La SER, has requested Valencia's Rodrigo Moreno - a player he knows well from their time together with Spain's Under-21s. Rodrigo also knows the Casa Blanca - he played for Madrid's Under-19s and Castilla before being sold to Benfica in 2011. Valencia price him at 120 million euros and while they don't want to let him go, they would be willing to if an unrefusable offer comes in - one around the 80 million mark which would go towards luring Kevin Gameiro away from Atlético.
Nagelsmann rebuff
Julian Nagelsmann was one of the candidates Madrid had in mind for the coaching job when Zidane called it a day. The German coach has explained why he gave Madrid the cold shoulder in a interview with 11 Freunde: "It's not that I disn't think about their offer. Who would hang up if Real Madrid them?! There is no bigger club than Real Madrid but I am in the comfortable position of being just 30 years old [the interview was done at the start of this month - Nagelsmann turned 31 earlier this week]. If my coaching career continues to a certain point then maybe in a few years' time I will have another opportunity to work at a club of their prestige. For family reasons, now isn't the best time for me to move abroad for work".
Lunin presented
ICYMI Goalkeeper Andriy Lunin was unveiled at the Bernabéu earlier this week. The 20-year-old becomes the first Ukranian player at Real Madrid and was accompanied by his family as he stepped out onto the Bernabéu pitch for the first time. He came across as a very bright, level-headed young man in his press conference and even impressed everyone present by delivering a short speech in Spanish!