Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti could be set to call up a 20-year-old defender to fill in for injured right-back Dani Carvajal - and this could benefit Liverpool.
Ancelotti may be forced to make the change after Carvajal sustained a serious cruciate ligament injury earlier this month.
In the 2-1 weekend win against Celta Vigo, Madrid were forced to play back five with Fran Garcia and Lucas Vazquez, but the Madrid boss insisted that tactics had not changed, explaining how “without the ball, there had to be a line of four defenders, as we have always done and will always do”.
The makeshift backline was exposed on multiple occasions, and despite scoring, Celta forward Williot Swedberg could have a few more goals if he had his shooting boots on.
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Madrid’s other first-team option at right-back is David Alaba, but he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury last December, which will keep him out for a while longer.
Therefore, Madrid may be forced to play a 20-year-old right-back who has previously played for Spain at Under-19 level, according to Spanish outlet AS.
Ancelotti may include David Jiménez in his squad for the ‘El Clasico’ match away at Barcelona on Saturday evening.
Despite featuring regularly for Real Madrid C and the club’s reserve side Real Madrid Castilla, the defender has not made a single first-team appearance for the club.
Madrid Universal describe him as “impressive on the field, showcasing his offensive capabilities, strong character, and impressive ball control”, but playing in such a high-profile game could prove to be risky, with Ancelotti thought to still potentially be likely to favour the experienced Vazquez from the start on the weekend.
Jimenez was previously promoted to the first-team squad for Madrid’s La Liga fixture against Alaves on September 24 but was not used by Ancelotti.
Another youngster who may have been in the picture if he had not been injured is 17-year-old Jesus Fortea, but he also faces a spell on the sidelines.
Of course, Madrid fans will be disappointed that first-choice right-back Carvajal is injured, but this cloud may have a silver lining if the youngster can make his mark at the Santiago Bernabeu.
If so, this may also have a knock-on effect on Madrid’s interest in Liverpool full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold. The 15-time European champions will eventually need to replace 32-year-old Carvajal, and they are thought to be keen on Alexander-Arnold - who is out of contract in June 2025.
If the 26-year-old does sign a new deal at Liverpool, this means his price would likely skyrocket.
But if Jimenez proves his worth, this could save the club a huge transfer fee as the 20-year-old is a product of Madrid’s ‘La Fabrica’ academy.
However, Spanish outlet Marca published a front-page headline saying they “already know that he [Alexander-Arnold] will not renew”. But the two club's have neither confirmed or denied this.
Alexander-Arnold will be able to speak to Madrid and other foreign clubs from January 1, 2025.
Topics: Real Madrid, Carlo Ancelotti, David Alaba, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool
Luke Davies