Whatever happens Mikel Merino and still no certain ‘9’ of his confidence, Imanol Alguacil He will be able to field a starting eleven with all guarantees on Sunday against Rayo Vallecano. The decision to stay Martin Zubimendiabout to sign a new contract with Real, has changed his outlook for these first matches and for the season, even though the squad is not yet complete, like almost everyone in the First Division.
The future of Imanol is revealed Mikel Merinoalthough he knows he has all the earmarks of leaving for Arsenal. It is less clear, although there are strong options, that it will be in the next few days and that is why there is doubt about what will happen if there is no agreement in English before Sunday’s game, if the ‘8 ‘ will take its logical place in the medullary if there is none.
There are 15 days left before the end of the summer window – August 30 is the main date – and a lot can happen, although Real do not expect too much movement, except for Merino and maybe up front, though Sadiq Umar You have options to stay.
In any case, Imanol From his debut, he can count on a squad that offers him many guarantees despite the loss of two pillars such as Le Normand and, predictably, Merino.
To replace Breton, the coach had to start with the duo formed by Aritz Elustondo and Pachecothat, although he has yet to play a preseason game, comes from the Games. John Martin This is the alternative due to the assured absence of Igor Zubeldia due to injury. Besides, Traore and Javi Lopez They were nominated as favorites to occupy the lanes. The Tenerife native will make his debut as a starter in the absence of Aihenfor whom this fight is too early.
In the medullary, the presence of Zubimendi at the helm he sends a tremendous calm. The great unknown is knowing which football player will occupy the second height of the midfield, behind a braise untouchable. Turrienteswho has not trained in Zubieta until this Monday, is the best place, but sucic He has come to occupy that position and will Merino play differently if he is not already a ‘Gunner’?
Kubo led the attack
in front, Take Kubo He seems to have a fixed position on the right. And for the other two positions, there is a dance of options. Oyarzabal He is the only center forward who is convincing Imanolbut it’s a little lacking in preparation. The coach wanted to try a ‘9’ without much success in a Becker who is also competing with Barrene for the right winger position. And all this, without counting a Sergio Gomez which came as a shot after a sensational Olympic Games where he managed to win gold with Spain.
We cannot ignore that possibility either Imanol use the other footballers you have worked with throughout the preseason such as Odriozola in the right lane, Urko and Olasagasti in a wide area, Marin in hindrance or Magunazelaia at the tip of the spear, although these are more distant options. Zubeldia and Zakharyanalong with a Aihen still gentle, they are the only ones absent due to injury.
Whatever happens Merino, Imanol a good Real line up in the premiere against Rayo
Zubimendi’s renewal may be near
La Real is still not about it Martin Zubimendialthough they know and celebrate the footballer’s refusal to accept Liverpool’s juicy offer. At the club they are finalizing a shield, which they hope to complete in the coming days and which includes a salary increase, up to making him the best paid in the squad, and for the duration of the contract. It will be more difficult to raise the value of his termination clause, which he also did not want to raise in his October 2022 renewal.
La Real managed to convince the San Sebastian native to reject Liverpool’s incredible proposal, but they knew it was more for reasons of feeling and nerve than the improvement of the contract they promised him.
Imanol starts without a certain center forward he trusts
It seems unlikely that Real will get to this point, days before the first Liga match, without signing a center forward, but that moment has arrived and it is certainly not Imanol’s wish. The technician has Oyarzabalwhich is also not particularly ‘9’, and has two players who like it Sadiq Umar and Carlos Fernandezwhere he lacks confidence, as he showed last year and in the preseason. The club is looking for a solution for one of the two – it is mainly interested in the transfer of the Nigerian – to sign another nine.
Source: La Verdad
I am Shawn Partain, a journalist and content creator working for the Today Times Live. I specialize in sports journalism, writing articles that cover major sporting events and news stories. With a passion for storytelling and an eye for detail, I strive to be accurate and insightful in my work.
