Real Madrid Transfer News Roundup: Federico Valverde extends stay; Xabi Alonso backed for Los Blancos job, and more - November 10, 2023
Real Madrid are preparing for their upcoming La Liga game against Valencia on Saturday (November 11). Carlo Ancelotti's men are second in the table after 12 games, two points behind Girona.
Meanwhile, midfielder Federico Valverde has signed a new deal at the Santiago Bernabeu. Elsewhere, Xabi Alonso has been backed to take charge of Los Blancos.
On that note, here's a look at the key Real Madrid transfer stories as on November 10, 2023:
Federico Valverde extends stay
Federico Valverde has extended his stay at the Santiago Bernabeu, Real Madrid have confirmed.
The Uruguayan midfielder arrived at the club in 2015 and has developed into one of the best in the world in his position. He has appeared 220 times for the La Liga giants across competitions, registering 19 goals and 18 assists. The 25-year-old has been key to the club's succession plans for Toni Kroos and Luka Modric.
Valverde's impressive rise has earned him admirers at clubs across Europe, but the player always saw his future at Los Blancos. He dreams of wearing the armband for the club one day as well.
Real Madrid have now tied him down to a new deal till 2029, with a €1 billion release clause. The Uruguayan joins Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo Goes and Eduardo Camavinga, who have all committed their futures to the club in the last two weeks.
The 25-year-old had previously earned €156,346 per week excluding bonuses, according to Capology. Valverde's new deal is likely to include a pay hike.
Xabi Alonso backed for Real Madrid job
Journalist Neil Jones has backed Xabi Alonso to take charge at Real Madrid. The German manager has been a revelation since taking charge of Bayer Leverkusen in 2022.
He has been identified as a potential replacement for Carlo Ancelotti next summer. The Italian's contract expires at the end of this season. and he's expected to leave to take over at the Brazil national team.
In his column for Caught Offside, Jones also named Bayern Munich as a potential destination for Alonso and remains hopeful of his arrival at Liverpool someday.
"He (Alonso)worked under some of the best coaches in the history of the game – Guardiola, Ancelotti, Benitez, Mourinho, Del Bosque – and it is clear that that has had a big influence on him.
"Furthermore, the type of player he was – someone who relied on speed of thought rather than speed of foot – lends itself to management, I would say," wrote Jones.
He continued:
"Of course, he will know that bigger tests await. He has been on pretty much a constant upward curve for the last 12 months, and we are yet to see how he handles a rocky spell.
"But the early evidence is that this is a coach who, as he did as a player, can go right to the top. Liverpool manager? Maybe one day, although I suspect that Real Madrid or Bayern Munich might get there first…”
Alonso has taken his team to the top of the Bundesliga after 10 games.
Gareth Bale sends Jude Bellingham warning
Former Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale has advised Jude Bellingham to act like a Galactico at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The English midfielder joined the La Liga giants from Borussia Dortmund this summer and has hit the ground running. Bellingham has amassed 13 goals and three assists in 14 games across competition, endearing himself to fans.
Bale knows a thing or two about playing for Los Blancos. He had a love hate relationship with the fans during his time at the club. Speaking on Sky's A League of their Own, Bale admitted that he should have 'played the game' during his stint in Madrid.
"The biggest advice I would give him is play the game at Madrid. If you don't play the game and do what the media want, speak to them and basically be a puppet, you do get a lot of stick.
"You'll see a lot of Galacticos, they'll act like Galacticos, do what the press want, playing the game of Real Madrid," said Bale.
He continued:
"That's probably where I was a bit of a downfall. I didn't want to do it. I just wanted to play football and go home. It hindered me, and that made them attack me.
"So my advice would be, honestly, just play the game of Real Madrid off the field. You have to speak after games. Make sure you try, and speak in Spanish. Do all those kinds of things."
Bale spent nine seasons at the Santiago Bernabeu, amassing 106 goals and 67 assists in 258 games across competitions.