Real Madrid Transfer News Roundup: Los Blancos have Arda Guler plan, Carlo Ancelotti happy with Dani Ceballos stay, and more - September 1, 2024
Real Madrid host Real Betis at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday, September 1, in La Liga. Carlo Ancelotti's team have won just one of the first three league games this season and are desperate for three points now.
Meanwhile, Los Blancos believe Arda Guler could help with their succession plans for a club legend. Elsewhere, Carlo Ancelotti is happy that Dani Ceballos has stayed at the club beyond the summer.
On that note, let's look at the major Real Madrid transfer stories from September 1, 2024.
Real Madrid have Arda Guler plan
Real Madrid have identified Arda Guler as the ideal successor for Luka Modric, according to Jorge Picon. The Turkish midfielder arrived at the Santiago Bernabeu last summer from Fenerbahce and had a mixed start to life in Spain.
The 19-year-old was linked with an exit this year, with multiple clubs interested in taking him on loan. However, Los Blancos refused to let Guler go, because they have high hopes from him.
Guler caught the eye with his nation at Euro 2024 and has been pushing for a place in the starting XI this season. He has started just one game so far, featured in the other three from the bench, but has been very impressive.
There's already concerns about Modric's ability to adapt to the faster style of play being implemented by Carlo Ancelotti of late. The Turkish international is now being seen as an alternative to the legendary Croatian.
The 19-year-old has created 1.86 clear goalscoring chances per 90 minutes this season, the most in the Real Madrid squad. Guler is only behind Vinicius Junior in the overall chances created. He is already being hailed as the future at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Carlo Ancelotti happy with Dani Ceballos stay
Carlo Ancelotti is pleased to have Dani Ceballos in his roster amid rumours linking him with an exit from Real Madrid this summer. The Spaniard was a target for Real Betis, who were keen to take their former player back to Andalusia in the final days of the transfer window.
Ceballos has struggled for game time under the Italian manager, and was apparently considering an exit in search of regular football. However, Los Blancos opted to hold on to him, even rejecting an offer from Betis for his services.
Speaking to the press, as cited by Football Espana, Ancelotti insisted that the 28-year-old remains part of his plans.
“He is an important player for us. It is true that he has not had the minutes he wanted or deserved, but we are happy that he has stayed with us. He will be very useful for the team,” said Ancelotti.
Ceballos has registered just six minutes of first team football for Real Madrid this season from two games.
Former player opens up on Kylian Mbappe struggles
Former Newcastle United goalkeeper Shaka Hislop believes Kylian Mbappe just needs to score his first league goal to regain his form at the Santiago Bernabeu. The French superstar joined Real Madrid this summer following the expiry of his contract with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).
Mbappe started life with Los Blancos with a goal against Atalanta in the UEFA Super Cup. However, he has since failed to find the back of the net in three consecutive games in La Liga, raising concerns among fans.
Speaking on ESPN FC, Hislop pointed out that the 25-year-old hasn't been his usual self since joining the La Liga champions.
“There’s no question that Kylian Mbappe is an extraordinary talent. Yet I just feel that at times he hasn’t run at defenders like you associate him with doing. He just hasn’t been with the kind of fluidity and tempo that we know that Kylian Mbappe can," said Hislop.
He continued:
“And I don’t understand it. I don’t know if he just needs that first goal to kind of shed some of maybe the nervousness about this move to Real Madrid. I just didn’t see this coming and it’s difficult to explain."
He concluded:
"And again, I’m just going to put it down as a player desperately in need of that first goal, a player who all of a sudden is subject to the same kind of mortal frailties that we all have from time to time.”
Recent reports have suggested that Real Madrid remain confident that Mbappe can regain his mojo soon.