Real Madrid evaluates key player returns and goalkeeper conundrum

After a seven-day vacation, Real Madrid’s footballers will return to training this Friday (16:00 hours), with Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti eager to see how many players from the extensive absentee list he can recover. Additionally, the decision is pending on who will be the team’s starting goalkeeper in the second half of the season.

Ending 2023 with eight absentees, despite a 0-1 victory in Vitoria against Alavés, Real Madrid evaluates the situation as they prepare for the first match of 2024, hosting RCD Mallorca at the Santiago Bernabéu (19:15 hours).

On Friday, it is expected that Brazilian Vinicius Junior – absent due to a muscle tear, Dani Carvajal – sidelined with a left calf injury, and the French duo of Ferland Mendy – nursing a minor muscle injury, and Eduardo Camavinga – recovering from a tear in the lateral collateral ligament of the right knee, will engage in some on-field activity to continue their respective recovery processes.

Of them, Carvajal and Mendy have the best chances of making it to the Mallorca match. Vinicius and Camavinga still have recovery ahead, and efforts are underway to expedite their inclusion in the squad for the Supercopa de España in Saudi Arabia from January 10 to 14.

Meanwhile, long-term absentees Thibaut Courtois, Eder Militao, and David Alaba, due to knee injuries, and Arda Güler, who has not played an official match since June 19, continue their respective recovery processes.

Arda Güler, the Turkish player, has faced three injuries – knee meniscus issues requiring arthroscopy and two muscle injuries – since joining Real Madrid in the summer from Fenerbahçe. Real Madrid will exercise caution with his debut, ensuring a gradual return to match fitness in the second half of the season.

Due to the injury crisis, Ancelotti has had fewer selection headaches for the starting eleven in recent weeks, except for the goalkeeper debate.

Kepa Arrizabalaga’s muscle injury gave Ukrainian Andriy Lunin an extended opportunity in the penultimate season of his contract with Real Madrid. Ancelotti warned of the end of the rotation in 2024, and during the holidays, he aimed to decide between Kepa and Lunin for the starting goalkeeper position.

With Kepa now fit to compete, he has played two games, and Lunin has played three. Ancelotti will communicate his decision on the starting goalkeeper upon their return, while the club contemplates whether to sign a central defender in winter, with only two available in the first-team squad – Antonio Rüdiger and Nacho Fernández, the latter suspended for the Mallorca match.

The return to training on Friday will be behind closed doors, and on Saturday, from 11:00 hours, Real Madrid will open the doors of the Alfredo di Stéfano stadium for the traditional annual session open to the public.

Source: Marca