I never go into a season with the Champions League as the expectation, it's just not realistic. That should always be seen as a bonus, La Liga is the big prize and expectation each season.
Spanish press insist with Laporte, saying that the player is kicking and screaming for it, but personally I think we'll only do that if the player makes it possible. Don't think we'll interfere.
AS said we don't want to pay a transfer fee. Saudi club paid 27 ME transfer fee last summer so they'd probably ask for that much. And Laporte will have to take a huge pay cut as he earns 22 ME per season tax free there.
Reports yesterday that Atlético might shift to Laporte option since Feyenoord want around 40 ME for Hancko while Atlético value him at 25 ME.
I consider Atletico as much of a threat as Barcelona, there’s not too much between the two imo. We’ll be very firm favourites absolutely for a few La Liga titles in the next run of years unless something drastic happens.
I really think we should get Davies..... I'm sure we can get it done under 40m. 1. Fran is not ready and probably needs a good loan spell somewhere; 2. Mendy is injury prone 3. An injury at LB and CB (God forbid...) could force us to use Cama at left back...and Tchouameni at CB...... then we'd have a big hole in midfield.... I know that's a bit far fetched but possible when you look at last year's issues... 4. Davies is excellent going forward....AND better defensively than Fran. - Get Davies - Get rid of Ceballos and promote Mario Marin - Sign a CB on loan (anyone decent that Juve is trying to get rid of? I hear there's a fire sale going on out there lol We're set.
Davies won't get the money he wants if 40 ME transfer fee is involved. I expect him to get a lucrative signing bonus next summer whether by renewing at Bayern or moving elsewhere on bosman.
We're sweating over 27-30ME for a CB? That's dumb. I'm sure he'll lower his wages. If he wants to go back to anywhere in Europe the wages will be lowered.
I'm just gonna focus on this, but I think people quickly forget Fran's age. He's 25 (well, he will be in 10 days). He's older than most of the important players in the squad. If he's not "ready" by now, he's never going to be ready to be a starter at a major club. Maybe Rayo is more his level if we're talking starting fullback. He's too old to be bothering with developmental loan spells. I'm not too arsed by him, he's a backup LB after all and if we're playing a marquee game and Mendy's unavailable then it's just as likely Camavinga gets the nod - maybe not against Barcelona though after what happened against Yamal, that was ugly - and Fran can be pretty effectively hidden otherwise. He's clearly a backup at best here, he lacks composure and defensive IQ to be anything more than that.
Mendy is clearly the starter, Fran is essentially a back up LB. I think part of the reason why Fran is not going anywhere is because they would like to see the evolution of Miguel at Girona this year. Girona is playing CL now, so Miguel is going to be playing twice a week. At a minimum, he will have 8 CL games against decent European competition. If Miguel makes a significant jump, then he is brought in next year and Fran is on the way out. Chucking Fran after one year, only to buy a LB who would potentially block Miguel's return in a year is a bit short sighted. I think the Davies talk is more smoke than anything. Davies it looking for a pay day.
I agree with this. We can afford to let the LB situation play out another year, see Fran and also see what happens with Miguel and Davies. This is a crucial year for Davies, whether he steps up in his contract year and shows form of past years or if he's basically played himself out of playing for a top top club. Bayern have Guerreiro and I'm guessing if Davies looks poor that Kompany won't hesitate to drop him to 2nd choice. Miguel isn't particularly good defensively either but at least it feels like he has more in his toolkit in attack. More intuition, can pick out attacking lanes better. Fran mostly feels like a "pace, overlap, and cross" merchant.
30-35 ME is what they had earmarked for a young CB like Yoro. That kind of investment will be for a long term CB option. Don't think they want to spend that much on Laporte who's 30. Only possible if the transfer fee is cheap like Joselu.
We had a similar amount earmarked for Davies too (not that it was likely to be sufficient for Bayern) and if that transfer happens now it would be as a free transfer next year, so the overall costs for that wouldn't be as high if it happens at all. In effect that is money saved now. I'm not saying whether I personally endorse Laporte at that value or not, someone who eventually lost his starting role at Man City and has been away from serious club football for a full year now (I'm willing to accept that he has remorse about leaving competitive football for the paycheck), but I'm pretty much in favor of getting any credible player as a CB at this point and quite clearly the club places zero value at all on any of the free agent CBs right now who could likely be had on a one-year contract so here we are.
Davies will likely ask 25-30 M as signing bonus if he's a free agent next summer. Alaba and Rudiger got similar money. Given how Davies' agent has went about it, they could even ask more and hence I am not sure we will sign him. Miguel might be a more viable option especially if he does well in CL with Girona. Laporte at his age for 30 M or so is not gonna happen given RM's track record. Since 2010, club has paid significant transfer fees for older players only twice. Modric who was 27 and Hazard who was 28. They focus on U-25 players unless it's bosman like Alaba, Rudiger or cheap like Joselu for 1.5 ME.
🚨 Nico Paz believes that his time ‘developing’ at Real Madrid is now over and the best thing is for him to make the jump. When the squad returns from USA, he will face his departure in just a few weeks. @marca pic.twitter.com/GgDmlFgwS9— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) August 4, 2024
Sale w/50% buyback, we know the drill by now. Hopefully he'll find his way back one day, same as I say with everybody sold in that manner. But he needs the playing time and he won't get it here.
Fran, even before he came back to us reminded me a lot of Theo before he moved to Milan and improved his game both on and crucially off the ball, fans here just wanted someone to bomb forward to "help" Vin and to "cross"the ball, i suppose he's good at that, i wasn't even sure who he'd be crossing to at the time, but that was the feeling then.
His father, who's apparently also managing him right now was a bad ass looking character, real classic central defender type.
🚨 Real Madrid are planning to make a final move for Alphonso Davies in the final days of the transfer market, making Bayern choose between selling now or losing him for free next year. @relevo pic.twitter.com/EaMOsPs1Nc— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) August 5, 2024 🚨 Real Madrid are optimistic about signing Alphonso Davies for free next year. The player has signalled that he wants to join Madrid. @relevo pic.twitter.com/9evX7Kpiii— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) August 5, 2024 🚨 Publicly, Real Madrid have stated there will be no more transfers this summer, but they have not ruled out the possibility of signing Alphonso Davies. @relevo pic.twitter.com/Fo4ehPgpC5— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) August 5, 2024 🚨 There is no concern at the club if Davies doesn't arrive this summer. Fran García will stay and Mendy is getting closer to renewing his contract. @relevo pic.twitter.com/oE1wmqXjfk— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) August 5, 2024
Thought he was poor vs Milan, but maybe it was nerves of being the first game as starter albeit pre-season. Carlo already gave him debut in La Liga last season. 🚨 BREAKING: Mario Martin is set to be PROMOTED to the First Team. He has the approval of Real Madrid's coaching staff. @diarioas pic.twitter.com/74nIfZw9dj— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) August 5, 2024 🚨 It looked like Mario Martin was leaving Real Madrid, but with the upcoming busy season & his positive preseason - he looks to have his place in the 1st team set.Alongside Lucas, Mario Martin is the only player to have played all possible minutes in preseason & he has Real… pic.twitter.com/v0EwkRJ9Gx— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) August 5, 2024 🇪🇸 Mario Martín in preseason, so far;• 180 minutes played• 96/105 passes completed• 7/8 long balls completed• 13/19 duels won• 100% aerial duels won• 6 tackles• 3 interceptions • 5 times fouled• 2 clearancesSolid. pic.twitter.com/0c7gugDhx2— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) August 5, 2024 🗣️ Carlo Ancelotti: “Mario Martin a player who could be in the first team. We'll see what happens when the transfer window closes because he's a player we can call upon". pic.twitter.com/GH0XZqHcs8— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) August 5, 2024