Real Madrid’s 2023/24 squad: Keep, sell, loan or release this summer

Let’s just hope and pray all this Kylian Mbappe lark is over sharpish once the summer transfer window opens for business.

Real Madrid are expected to acquire the generationally gifted Frenchman after he revealed earlier this year that he won’t be extending his contract with Paris Saint-Germain. The deal appears to be a formality, but who will the 25-year-old team up with in the Spanish capital?

Carlo Ancelotti’s men are destined for a multi-trophy 2023/24 campaign, and we shouldn’t expect drastic changes to the make-up of their squad for next season despite Mbappe’s likely addition.

Here’s who Madrid should keep, sell, loan, and release this summer.

Jude Bellingham, Daniel CarvajalJude Bellingham, Daniel Carvajal

Jude Bellingham is set to be joined by another superstar in the Spanish capital this summer / Flor Tan Jun/GettyImages

GK: Thibaut Courtois – Regarded as the world’s best goalkeeper before his injury-hit 2023/24 campaign, Courtois won’t be going anywhere.

GK: Andriy Lunin – The Ukrainian usurped Kepa Arrizabalaga in the depth chart this season and will fancy competing with Courtois next term.

DEF: Dani Carvajal – The long-time Madridista may well retire in the Spanish capital.

DEF: Eder Militao – Militao has missed much of the season due to an ACL tear, but he’ll be back in time for the run-in. The Brazilian starred last term and will return as first-choice.

DEF: Antonio Rudiger – The free agent arrival has been tasked with holding down the fort on his own given Madrid’s centre-back injuries. A must-keep.

DEF: David Alaba – Real Madrid aren’t going to sell Alaba, who’s out until the start of next season with a long-term knee injury.

DEF: Lucas Vazquez – The versatile customer hasn’t been a prominent figure, but he’s still set for a contract extension before the end of the season.

MID: Toni Kroos – The coolest of operators, Kroos has already been told by the club’s hierarchy that he can extend his contract when he wants… and he should.

MID: Eduardo Camavinga – The Frenchman has previously been linked with a move away, but Camavinga has enjoyed an uptick in minutes this term and will be a core member of Los Blancos for the next decade.

MID: Aurelien Tchouameni – Who knows, perhaps Tchouameni will develop into a world-class centre-back after stepping in alongside Rudiger midway through 2023/24. He’s another core member of Madrid’s next generation.

MID: Luka Modric – ONE MORE YEAR! ONE MORE YEAR!

MID: Federico Valverde – The Uruguayan would command a monster fee having evolved into one of the world’s best at his position. He’s irreplaceable, and Madrid have tied him down until 2029.

MID: Jude Bellingham – Now, this was a tough one… not. Belligoal will be teaming up with Mbappe entering the 2030s, probably.

MID: Brahim Diaz – It looked as if Brahim’s Madrid career had passed him by, but he’s enjoyed a resurgent campaign while performing a bit-part role. He’s a handy deputy to Jude.

FWD: Vinicius Junior – Once the French superstar arrives in the Spanish capital, Madrid could arguably lay claim to the world’s three best players. Vinicius has dealt with an injury setback or two this term, but he’s been absolutely imperious in 2024.

FWD: Rodrygo – There may be murmurs regarding a move away, but neither Mbappe nor Vinicius will want to perform Rodrygo’s role. The Brazilian is key for balance, and he’s a lovely player to watch.

FWD: Joselu – Signed somewhat as a contingency loan last summer, Joselu has exceeded expectations and some. Madrid may well keep him on.

Arda GulerArda Guler

Arda Guler has endured an injury-ridden debut campaign / Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/GettyImages

DEF: Fran Garcia – There could be plenty of movement at left-back this summer, with Garcia, who joined the club last year, struggling to impress in year one. He might not be up to standard, but a loan is more likely than a permanent sale.

MID: Arda Guler – The Turkish hotshot has endured a wretched debut season thanks to injury, and a loan is very much needed. He’s not going to be getting any of Bellingham’s minutes next season.

Ferland MendyFerland Mendy

Ferland Mendy should be sold if Alphonso Davies joins this summer / Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/GettyImages

DEF: Ferland Mendy – Mendy has enjoyed a decent enough season and Ancelotti would happily retain the Frenchman. However, what would be the point if Alphonso Davies joined this summer? Miguel Gutierrez could replace Garcia and the club could get a decent fee for Mendy despite his contract expiring in 2025.

MID: Dani Ceballos – Madrid are not going to be able to garner a big fee for Ceballos, who’s destined to join a La Liga European hopeful this summer.

Kepa ArrizabalagaKepa Arrizabalaga

Kepa Arrizabalaga has been usurped by Andriy Lunin / Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/GettyImages

GK: Kepa Arrizabalaga – The loanee will not be kept on having lost his place to Lunin midway through the season. Kepa will return to Chelsea with his future once again uncertain.

DEF: Nacho Fernandez – Despite being appointed captain at the start of the season, it feels as if Nacho’s time with Madrid is drawing to a close with his contract expiring this summer.

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Real Madrid eye move for another South American starlet

Real Madrid have sent scouts to watch River Plate starlet Franco Mastantuono after his first-team breakthrough at the South American giants.

Having been on the books at River Plate since 2019, Mastantuono recently broke into the senior team and became the third youngster player to ever make a competitive appearance for the club back in January 2024 at just 16 years old.

The attacking midfielder then went on to become the youngest goalscorer in the club’s history soon after, netting in a 3-0 Copa Argentina win over Excursionistas – breaking a record held by ex-Real Madrid star Javier Saviola in the process.

Mastantuono’s form has, expectedly, caught the eye of a number of top European clubs with the likes of Manchester City, Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain all reportedly holding an interest in the 16-year-old’s services.

Spanish outlet Marca have now reported that Real Madrid have also sent scouts to watch Mastantuono in recent weeks in order to assess the player’s credentials.

Franco MastantuonoFranco Mastantuono

Mastantuono is a regular at first-team level / Rodrigo Valle/GettyImages

Madrid have had notable success in tapping into the South American mark to sign young talent in recent years, with Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo Goes and Endrick all being signed by the club – two of which have already become superstars at the Santiago Bernabeu. Endrick is tipped to develop the same way once he officially joins the team this summer.

In order to protect the value of Mastantuono, River Plate recently agreed a contract renewel with the youngster, extending his current contact until 2026 and increasing his release clause €45m – the largest release clause ever inserted into a River Plate contract.

Having lost Claudio Echeverri to Manchester City for a minimal fee of €15m, River are keen to avoid a similar situation with their latest prodigal talent.

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Major League Soccer referee lockout ends with new CBA

Major League Soccer and Professional Referee Organization (PRO) and Professional Soccer Referees Association (PSRA) have finally come to an agreement on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement.

The new agreement between all three groups is set to run through the 2030 season which is a landmark moment for refereeing in the league. The lockout between MLS and PRO, PSRA came after an initial agreement was reached in late February before the start of the 204 season but it fell through when members from PSRA voted against the proposed CBA.

Replacement referees have been in place since the first kick of the new MLS season and they’ve had their fair share of critics, especially this past weekend in Charlotte FC’s 2-0 victory over Columbus Crew. But now, PRO referees are returning to the pitch as many players return from international duty for the upcoming matchday.

“Major League Soccer has some of the best match officials in the world, and PRO’s new CBA with PSRA recognizes that by committing substantial resources to the referee program – an investment that ranks among the highest for any global soccer league. We’re pleased this agreement provides PRO with a strong, long-term partnership to continue to develop and train the referees to make our officiating even better,” MLS executive vice president of sporting product & competition Nelson Rodriguez said in a release.

“We thank PRO and the match officials who’ve worked selflessly since the start of the 2024 MLS season. Many of these officials were already advancing toward becoming PRO match officials, and their participation provided important on-field experience, which will continue to benefit PRO, MLS, and all the other leagues in the future.

“We look forward to having the PRO match officials return this weekend, and we thank MLS players, coaches, and clubs for their professionalism, and our fans for their support throughout the opening month of the season.”

This weekend’s matches will see the return of the PRO referees, with Philadelphia Union taking on Minnesota United in the early afternoon kickoff on Saturday following by Colorado Rapids vs LAFC.

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Raphinha ‘frustrated’ as winger makes decision on Barcelona future – report

Barcelona winger Raphinha is frustrated with life at the club, a report has claimed, but is determined to stay at Camp Nou this summer.

Raphinha has been heavily linked with a move away from Barcelona as the club seek to raise money, with both the Premier League and Saudi Arabia touted as potential landing spots for the 27-year-old.

According to Sport, these constant links away from Barcelona have left Raphinha feeling frustrated, not least because he knows there is an element of truth to the matter.

Raphinha is said to believe that he does not have the full support of the fans, the club’s board or the Spanish press, going as far as to feel as though he has never been backed ever since his expensive move to the club in the summer of 2022.

Despite being made available for sale, Raphinha is adamant he still has a future at Barcelona and is not prepared to actively search out a new club.

RaphinhaRaphinha

Raphinha feels unfairly targeted / Pedro Salado/GettyImages

Raphinha has not been a regular starter under Xavi this season and has completed 90 minutes just twice in La Liga, and it is for that reason that those in charge at Barcelona are keen to cash in on their valuable asset.

Barcelona are asking for over €80m (£69m) to part ways with Raphinha but they are not expected to receive that level of interest from the Premier League, where Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with a move for the former Leeds United winger.

Clubs in Saudi Arabia are expected to bid for Raphinha but, as it stands, the Brazil international has no desire to leave either Barcelona or Europe.

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England vs Belgium: How to watch international friendly and prediction

England and Belgium meet for the 26th time on Tuesday night with both nations hoping to secure a notable friendly triumph before Euro 2024.

The Three Lions dominated the early duels, but the Red Devils often came out on top while their Golden Generation was leading the way. Belgium have won three of the previous matchups, including two at the 2018 World Cup.

Both teams will be without key players when they meet under the Wembley arch in midweek, but an array of talented stars will be keen to impress their respective managers ahead of this summer’s major tournament in Germany.

Here’s how you can tune into Tuesday night’s friendly.

In the United Kingdom, Channel 4 won the rights to England fixtures in 2022 and was home for the Three Lions’ UEFA Nations League fixtures and Euro 2024 qualifiers. The free-to-air channel broadcast Saturday’s defeat to Brazil and will also stream Tuesday’s friendly live.

Over in the United States, there are a lack of TV options. However, Spanish and Portuguese viewers in the US can tune into the game via ViX. The streaming service has shown a litany of different competitions, including international friendlies, since 2022.

DAZN have the rights in Canada, while Belgian viewers can watch via major television channel La Une.

Country

TV channel/live stream

United Kingdom

Channel 4

United States

ViX

Canada

DAZN

Belgium

La Une

Soccer - Chris Waddle and Enzo ScifoSoccer - Chris Waddle and Enzo Scifo

The two countries faced off at the 1990 World Cup / RENARD eric/GettyImages

These two European nations have encountered one another on 25 occasions having met for the first time in 1921. England prevailed 2-0, with the more advanced Three Lions winning eight of their first nine meetings – including a 9-1 victory away from home in 1927.

Belgium’s first win in 1936 came as a major surprise and they wouldn’t secure their second – excluding a 1998 penalty shootout win in the King Hassan II Cup – until the 2018 World Cup.

Having dominated their duels with the Red Devils for so long, England have endured more failures than successes against Belgium in recent times.

Team

England

Belgium

Won

16

5

Drawn

4

4

Goals scored

78

31

Biggest win

Belgium 1-9 England – May 1927

Belgium 2-0 England – November 2020

Belgium have drifted into a post-Golden Generation era under Domenico Tedesco, with some of the stars from their bygone age unlikely to feature on Tuesday night.

The Red Devils have impressed since Roberto Martinez’s exit, but they were profligate against Ireland on Saturday and inexperienced in several departments. England, however, will be far from full strength.

Gareth Southgate’s men were cagey and cautious against Brazil and it’s hard to envisage a major spark arriving in midweek despite the likely changing of personnel. Both teams will aim to control the contest via periods of sterile possession and a spectacle shouldn’t be expected.

It could go either way, but England do boast a few more difference makers than the visitors.

Prediction: England 1-0 Belgium

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