Real Madrid news: European Super League, Odegaard, Nuno Mendes...
Today's Real Madrid round-up features reports on the futures of Martin Odegaard and Nuno Mendes, and an apparent Florentino Pérez call for a European Super League.
Real Madrid after fifth straight win against Eibar
Real Madrid will be seeking their fifth straight victory in all competitions when they face Eibar at Ipurua in LaLiga on Sunday evening (21:00 CET).
After suffering consecutive defeats to Alavés and Shakhtar Donetsk three weeks ago, Zinedine Zidane’s men have since got their campaign firmly back on track with victories over Sevilla, Borussia Mönchengladbach, Atlético Madrid and Athletic Club - a run that has taken them to within three points of LaLiga top spot and saw them ensure qualification for the Champions League last 16 as group winners.
With anchorman Casemiro back in selection contention after serving a one-match ban against Athletic last time out, Madrid now go to a stadium where they ran out 4-0 winners last term. The trio of Martin Odegaard, Luka Jovic and Mariano Díaz have also returned to the squad after recovering from injury.
You’ll be able to follow live-text coverage of Eibar vs Real Madrid with AS English. We’ll be building up to the clash from about an hour ahead of kick-off in the Basque Country, before taking you through all the action.
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Real Madrid chief appears to call for Euro Super League
Speaking at Real Madrid’s annual general assembly on Sunday, club president Florentino Pérez appeared to signal his intention to take Los Blancos into a European Super League.
"Nothing will be the same - the [coronavirus] pandemic has changed everything," Pérez told a speech to club members in which he did not explicitly refer to the idea of a Super League. “It has made us all more vulnerable and that includes the football world. Football needs formulas to make it more competitive and exciting.
"This club has been a part of every innovation and has protected these innovations in our sport. It was the only club to be a founding member of FIFA in 1904, together with seven national federations. In 1955, L’Équipe and Real Madrid were the driving forces behind the creation of the European Cup - a revolutionary moment that changed the history of the game."
He continued: "Without all these changes, football wouldn’t have become what it is today - and we need a new change. Football has to face up to this new period […]. Reform of the game cannot wait; we have to tackle it. We have the responsibility to fight for this change."
Nuno Mendes would cost Real Madrid 45 million euros
Real Madrid are being tipped for an end-of-season move for Sporting CP’s Nuno Mendes, having apparently identified the 18-year-old as a prime candidate to boost their left-back options next term.
However, they’ll face competition from Serie A giants Juventus and AC Milan, according to Italian media outlet Calciomercato, which also says that Sporting have slapped a 45-million-euro price tag on the player.
Mendes, who is a Portugal Under-21 international, is also said to be interesting Premier League champions Liverpool.
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Real Sociedad eye Odegaard return
Meanwhile, Spanish newspaper La Razón is reporting that Real Sociedad could seek to take Martin Odegaard back to San Sebastián on another loan deal.
The 22-year-old had a hugely successful temporary spell at the Reale Arena last season, but has only managed eight appearances for Madrid since returning to Los Merengues in the summer, in a 2020/21 campaign that has been hampered by injury problems.
According to La Razón, Odegaard’s impressive performances for Real Sociedad last year, coupled with the recent injury issues suffered by Txuri-urding attacking midfielder David Silva, have persuaded the Basques of the merits of a January swoop for the Norwegian international.
La Real have enjoyed an excellent start to the season and sit second in LaLiga, three points behind leaders Atlético.