With the new La Liga season just five days away the El Clasico giants are ready to do battle again for the 2023/24 title.
Yes, Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid will have plenty to say about it but the La Liga 2023 betting odds are fairly and squarely behind Real Madrid and Barcelona who have trips away to Athletic Bilbao and Getafe on the opening weekend; and both teams have plenty of work to do off the field before the summer transfer window closes.
The long running saga of who can replace the departed Karim Benzema continues to dominate the La Liga 2023 news on the white side of Madrid, and fans at the Santiago Bernabeu, as well as manager Carlo Ancelotti may be getting a little frustrated. Los Blancos have been at the front of the queue to sign PSG’s ambitious star Kylian Mbappe (again).
After failing to bring the 24-year old France star to Madrid last season, Real Madrid were alerted again when Mbappe refused to extend his contract at the Parc des Princes beyond 2024, effectively putting himself on the transfer list. He has also resisted advances from Saudi Arabia and so looks destined to join one of Europe’s other top clubs.
The Real Madrid players seemingly want him to come. Vinicius Junior and Eder Militao recently implored the club to sign him on a TikTok video which went viral; but manager Carlo Ancelotti is less jovial about the whole situation. He has become frustrated by the lack of movement and actually mooted the idea of bringing Spurs talisman Harry Kane to the Santiago Bernabeu. It seems more likely that the England man will head to the Bundesliga to join champions FC Bayern, that’s if he leaves Tottenham.
Los Blancos have signed Joselu on loan from Segunda Division side Espanyol; he’s a fine player but is he a Galactico?
Real Madrid fans want more.
Another name has recently come into the frame. Juventus star Dusan Vlahovic could be an option as the Old Lady of Turin continues to wrestle with financial difficulties. The Serbian striker is valued at around 70m Euros and he would be the sort of marquee signing Madrid fans would accept. Vlahovic bagged 17 goals in 42 games for I Bianconeri since his move from Fiorentina where he scored 44 in 98 and he also has a one in two ratio for his country with 13 strikes in 21 international appearances.
Los Blancos need to make a move one way or another but keeper Thibaut Courtois remains calm about the situation, saying: “Other must take a step forward after Karim’s departure. We have great forwards like Vinicius, Rodrygo and now Joselu, who also brings something different. It’s a team and we need to solve it together.”
Unsettled Gavi gets his manager’s reassurance
Over in Catalonia manager Xavi has work to do to keep his squad happy and the circus up in Paris has affected some of his players’ state of mind. Reports in the Spanish press suggest that young midfield ace Gavi has become uneasy around the speculation linking him with a move to the Parc des Princes, as part of a deal to bring Mbappe to the Camp Nou, after the Blaugrana recently joined the race to sign the Frenchman.
Xavi took the youngster to one side to assure him that rumours printed in the Parisien were untrue and he remains a big part of the plans at Barcelona. 19-year old Gavi has struggled with injury in pre-season but he is hopeful of making the Blaugrana’s last warm up fixture against Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday. He is contracted to Barca until 2026 and has a whopping 1bn Euros release clause attached to his contract.
Flying winger Ousmane Dembele has also been caught up in the PSG chaos and it looked like he was set to join the Ligue 1 champions last week, in a 50m Euros switch from the Catalans. But the French club is awaiting some documentation and the deal is in the balance until matters are resolved.
Dembele is a Barca player and there is a slight chance the deal could collapse at the 11th hour; an outcome which would certainly suit the Barca fans.
So that’s where we are at the moment folks.
While the El Clasico rivals jostle for an advantage over the final few days until hostilities begin, keep it here at SBOTOP for all the latest La Liga news and updates. It’s going to be another rollercoaster campaign.
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