Official: Real Madrid recover key player for Pachuca showdown
Real Madrid have been handed a timely boost ahead of their second FIFA Club World Cup group stage match, as Antonio Rudiger has returned to Xabi Alonso's squad for the Pachuca showdown.
The German defender has recovered from a partial meniscus tear in his left knee, an injury he picked up on April 29. He is now fit enough to travel with the team for the all-important Club World Cup clash.
Advertisement
Rudiger's last appearance for the clun came in the Copa del Rey final on April 26, a match Real Madrid lost to Barcelona.
While he is not expected to start against the Mexian team, the experienced centre-back is set to be available from the bench, with young defenders Raul Asencio and Dean Huijsen likely to form the starting centre-back pairing.
Mbappe and Camavinga remain sidelined
Xabi Alonso's squad list for the crucial game against Pachuca does not include Kylian Mbappe, who is still recovering from a bout of acute gastroenteritis that ruled him out of the team's tournament opener, a 1-1 draw with Al Hilal in Miami.
Advertisement
The French forward has not trained fully and will continue his recovery away from the matchday squad.
Also missing is Eduardo Camavinga. The midfielder is still nursing a tendon injury in his left adductor and has yet to complete full training with the team. The club remains cautious about rushing him back, aiming for a full recovery before reintegration.
With qualification stakes rising in Group H, Rudiger's return adds experience and depth to Madrid's back line at a crucial moment.
Although the German defender is largely expected to be a substitute, his mere presence in the matchday squad will be a huge boost for the team from the Spanish capital.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
39 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Athletic Club fans turn cold on Nico Williams over Barcelona move
As the likelihood of Nico Williams' departure increases, the first major public reaction has already taken place back in his hometown. A mural in Barakaldo, a municipality located in the Basque Country, which featured both Nico and his older brother, Inaki Williams, has been altered. Advertisement In the early hours of Sunday, a group of individuals erased Nico's image from the wall. What remains is not just the absence of the young star's face, but also a strong message painted next to it. 'Joan edo geratu, errespetua galdu duzu.' (Translation: 'Go or stay. You have lost respect.'). The mural originally went up in March 2024, following Athletic Club's Copa del Rey triumph. Over time, other club icons like Iker Muniain and Oscar De Marcos were added. However, the recent act of defacing shows how divided emotions have become, especially among fans who feel betrayed by Nico's possible exit. Barcelona working behind the scenes Despite the controversy, the transfer looks set to go through. Barcelona's sporting director Deco has already confirmed that the club is actively working to finalise the move. The earlier mural looked like this. (Photo credit: X/GerardRomero) Advertisement The player's camp is also playing its part. Nico's agent, Felix Tainta, is now trying to convince Athletic Club to accept a payment structure that would allow Barça to pay the fee in instalments rather than all at once. The release clause currently stands at €58 million, but with inflation factored in, the total amount could reach €62 million unless both clubs reach a favourable agreement soon. If all goes according to plan, Nico Williams could soon be wearing the Barcelona shirt, fulfilling a move that now seems more inevitable than ever, even if it comes at the cost of upsetting his hometown supporters.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Real Madrid see €30m-rated Valencia defender as potential long-term solution
Carlo Ancelotti was tormented by the lack of depth at centre-back last season and paid the price for it in the form of Real Madrid's slip-ups across competitions. After all, Antonio Rudiger was playing through excruciating pain while David Alaba and Eder Militao spent more time injured than fit. Advertisement The arrival of Dean Huijsen, however, relieves pressure on the department to an extent. Even in that case, there is an equally strong stance that the men in white need at least one more player in the position going ahead this season. The La Liga option Los Blancos have been linked with several big names in the central defensive position in recent weeks with Liverpool's Ibrahima Konate and Arsenal's William Saliba standing out as seriously promising options. Now, as relayed by Real Madrid Confidencial, however, Valencia's Cristhian Mosquera has emerged as a strong candidate to reinforce the back-line and is a name Xabi Alonso approves. Cristhian Mosquera is on Real Madrid's radar. (Photo by) Advertisement Like Konate, he is a player who ends his contract in June 2026, giving Real Madrid a golden chance to pursue him on a free transfer next summer. After all, it has been the Galacticos' trend in recent years to follow free agents more closely. Despite being just 20 years of age, Mosquera is seen as one of La Liga's most promising defenders and Alonso sees a lot of value in acquiring his services now. Moreover, it will be relatively simple to pull off given Valencia's economic situation. The Mestalla-based club are expected to show minimal resistance to letting go of the defender given their need to sell players. The youngster is rated at €30 million and a fee around that ball-park could prove sufficient. *Player valuation in title obtained from on date of publication.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Atletico Madrid reject chance to sign Arsenal star
Atletico Madrid are looking to have another productive summer transfer window after their big-spending efforts in 2024, and a new defensive midfielder is among the additions wanted by Diego Simeone. But the chance to sign a familiar face has now been shot down by those at Los Colchoneros. Atleti are hoping to sign Johnny Cardoso from Real Betis, but given that there is a significant gap in the two clubs' valuations of the United States international, it is not guaranteed that a deal will be done. As such, other players have been considered. Advertisement In recent months, Atleti have been linked with re-signing Thomas Partey from Arsenal. The Ghanian pivot is set to leave the Premier League side upon the expiry of his contract at the end of the month, but a return to the RiyadhAir Metropolitano is unlikely to come to fruition this summer. Atletico Madrid not planning move for Thomas Partey Image via Maxppp/Fichajes As per ED, Atleti have turned down the chance to re-sign Partey, despite him being available as a free agent. Instead, other options will be considered in the event of a deal not being agreed with Betis for Cardoso. Partey has also been linked with Barcelona, who have regularly targeted the free agent market in recent years due to their well-documented financial woes. But at this stage, there is no suggestion that they will try to sign the 32-year-old midfielder upon his departure from Arsenal. Atleti are hoping to close multiple deals in the coming weeks, with the plan being for Cardoso, Alex Baena and Andy Robertson to be added to Simeone's squad for the start of their pre-season campaign – which will begin later this year due to their involvement at the Club World Cup. For now, it remains to be seen who will make the move to Los Colchoneros.
