What his point is that Xhaka was one of the few players Xabi specifically asked for more for his qualities then player profile. Guler and Xhaka aren't alike imo. The video that someone posted about how Xabi will set us up has many errors in it. Another player Xabi wanted and got was Hoffmann and Xabi credited him a lot for changing the whole dynamic of the team and his partnership with Xhaka during the Neverlusen season. Weird how that dynamic collapsed. I just want my fellow madridistas to understand that Xabi isn't some magic cure or the perfect manager. When we sign a player we have a casual expectation that he will raise his level now that he's in Madrid. That's my hope with Xabi too. He is still a young coach. He has to take the next step in his progression too and i think he will.
Xabi is excellent, but the celebration like we eeked out some dummy and hired a professor is far fetched and very naive.
I'd keep him as a backup. He runs and isn't injured and knows the team, we've amazing full backs and often poor backups who are often injured when we need them to play.
I’m really not a fan at all, but you are right he is always available at least … keeping it positive.
At that age to play every game for midtable epl team and being called for Spain , specially when we keep calling to sign more spanish players ,and we need to strengthen that area, this should be easy decision. Certainly i seehim way better option than Yoro who we were ready to sign last year.
As it is hard to believe there isn't a better right back in the academy than Lucas,it is hard to believe there isnt a better left back than Fran aswell The guy is good at nothing other than running like a headless chicken
Nah man. We’re going for a major upgrade of our left backs…not just adding a mediocre player for depth. Fran at this point in time isn’t Real Madrid starter quality. That’s almost indisputable
Looks like we’re on. 🚨 CONFIRMED: Real Madrid are now in POLE POSITION for Dean Huijsen. His father and agent had a meeting with the club in Spain.Final decision in a matter of hours or few days. @LucaBendoni @DiMarzio pic.twitter.com/nM01EpiaLJ— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) May 13, 2025 🚨 JUST IN: Bournemouth's terms for Dean Huijsen transfer:- £50M release clause- To be paid through installments across 18 months- First installment must be £25M@LucaBendoni @DiMarzio pic.twitter.com/q5LcVaAuoV— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) May 13, 2025
Damn, couldn't sign a janitor the entire last year but spent 50 mil. bucks on a player as soon as they got the italian out of the floor. Nasty.
Maybe I'm alone in this boat, but I could not care less that he is Spanish. I'm excited for his signing, but not because of what national team he plays for, but because he's brilliant on the ball with both feet, because of his age and potential, because of him being a big factor in Bournemouth having a top 5 least goals conceded record in the premier league, the best in their history. If he was any other nationality, what difference would it make? Doesn't make the player better or worse.
I'm not Spanish or from Spain so i don't really mind for the number of Spanish player we got. but if we got the option of brining a great player that he is also Spanish ill prefer it. also, as i said yesterday i preferred that we signed him instead of Hincapié. About the LB, i prefer Álvaro Carreras except the fact the he is Spanish he also played at RM until he moved to United. he also showed good performance in the UCL against Barca and Atlético.
Fran is a fine backup LB. The real problem is he starts too many game because the supposed starter who earns top wages is always injured. Not saying Fran is ideal, but if Lucas was at least at that level defensively, I reckon we would concede a lot less.
Does it not help the Champions League squad selection? So you to have x many same club nationals registered or something? With Lucas leaving and potentially Cebellos then it might help.
🇦🇷 Franco Mastantuono (17) in the Liga Profesional this season:☑️ 10 starts⚽️ 3 goals🅰️ 4 assists🚀 4.61 shots per 90 minutes🔑 2.90 chances created per 90m🔀 4.08 dribbles completed per 90m💥 5.36 touches in the oppo’s box per 90mMassive. 💎 pic.twitter.com/K8gyo2KB88— Football Wonderkids (@fbwonderkids) May 13, 2025 We need him
Huijsen is definitely solid on the ball and has a good passing range with both feet. With his size he should be useful on setpieces. But I gotta say I’ve been watching him the past couple matches with Bournemouth and he seems slow both in recovery speed and reaction time. For me he lacks some urgency and almost seems too calm when things are happening around him. I’m excited to get a young talent with his attributes (lefty, passing range, ball skills, size) but I have some worries about his athleticism in terms of mobility and speed.
They always knew Carlo was gone after this season. The renewal seemed to be odd last year when both parties were heading in a different direction (Brazil were in active negotiations with Carlo). But if you had believed that you were going in a different direction, you should have done it regardless of the results at the time. It would explain reluctance to buy players when you're changing your system completely in a year's time.
There's quotes going around that the club and Alonso were discussing transfer strategy in December/January.
Real Madrid now confident of signing Dean Huijsen. They have tracked the Bournemouth defender since he was at Malaga. Pressure to pay £50m release clause growing after Madrid’s disappointing season https://t.co/CQdAkf6jZF— Jacob Steinberg 🎗️ (@JacobSteinberg) May 13, 2025
Well, at least the club has responded. There was a nagging bit of me that wondered if this shit season would move them to do anything. As others have said, it's absolutely wild that we're moving this fast when Carlo got nothing. Not only did he get nothing that he asked for, but they kept him on for another year. Maybe giving Xabi another year to see if he pans out before they thoroughly invest. I get it, but it still leaves a sour taste in my mouth. Having said that, I'll be calm about Huijsen when we get the official tweet. Our fax machine could still be on the fritz.
Xabi rejected Liverpool and Bayern last summer. He knew he'd be RM coach in 2025 or 26 (when Carlo's contract runs out). There must have been some communication with the club. Carlo was renewed around 2022 winter World cup. Though there was a dip in form after the World Cup, his job was safe. Maybe partly because an option like Xabi wasn't there then as he was still coaching Real Sociedad B.
I am curious what the final asking price will be for Carreras. I took a lot of pushback last summer because I was all in on Davies and would've been willing to spend 30-50 on him at the time given his age, experience, and the tools in his toolkit. It looks like Carreras might end up coming for a similar price. While we may have dodged a bullet since Davies tore his acl, I'm not sure Carreras' ceiling is anywhere near Davies. Certainly would expect him to improve on what we have, but I don't see a potential world class talent. Huijsen+Carreras this summer as opposed to Yoro+Davies last summer for similar costs.