Copa del Rey · Midfielder · #10 · Spain · 30 yrs
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Jose Mourinho has returned for a second stint with Real Madrid, and former defender Nacho Fernandez believes it is the right move. The post Mourinho is ‘exactly what Real Madrid need right now’, insists Nacho appeared first on SoccerNews.
Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni reportedly turned into the protagonists of yet another confrontation at Real Madrid. The atmosphere within the Real Madrid locker room has reached a boiling point as the 2025-26 season nears its conclusion, with the club staring down a trophyless campaign and less than a month of play remaining. Fresh reports of internal friction have surfaced, this time featuring midfielders Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni as the central figures in a heated training ground dispute. According to a Wednesday report from Marca, Valverde and Tchouameni engaged in a volatile confrontation that nearly devolved into a physical altercation. The incident took place during a high-stakes training session at Valdebebas as the squad prepares for Sunday’s El Clasico against FC Barcelona. The Spanish outlet noted that the spark between the Uruguayan and the Frenchman was a hard foul during a practice drill. What began as a verbal argument quickly escalated to shoving, and the tension reportedly followed both players into the locker room after the session was dismissed by the coaching staff. This incident is just the latest in a series of cracks forming within the squad, following a reported clash between Alvaro Carreras and Antonio Rudiger just days ago. Carreras attempted to downplay that event on social media, claiming it was a “specific matter with no relevance that has already been solved” and insisting his relationship with the rest of the roster remains “really good.” Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni of Real Madrid warming up. However, the dysfunction appears to extend beyond just the players. The Athletic recently revealed that Kylian Mbappe was involved in a separate altercation during training, where he allegedly hurled insults at an assistant coach serving as a referee during a scrimmage. This suggests a systemic breakdown in discipline that goes well beyond typical late-season fatigue. With the next El Clasico set for Sunday, May 10, Real Madrid find itself in a precarious position where anything less than a victory would see Barcelona clinch the La Liga title. While the 2026 World Cup looms on the horizon for many of these stars, the rising internal conflicts have raised serious questions about who will remain part of the project when the next campaign begins. Jose Mourinho: The chosen one to unite the squad? The Real Madrid roster is expected to undergo a massive overhaul this summer, driven largely by a perceived lack of leadership and an inability to manage the massive egos within the dressing room. The club’s traditional Spanish core has all but vanished; following the departures of Sergio Ramos and Nacho Fernandez, current captain Dani Carvajal is now expected to exit as his contract nears its expiration. This exodus of veteran leadership has left a vacuum that current manager Alvaro Arbeloa has struggled to fill. Without a strong “Spanish core” to anchor the locker room, the combination of immense pressure and on-field failure has left the squad’s world-class stars without a common ground or a clear sense of direction. With the atmosphere turning toxic, a trend that began to surface late in the Xabi Alonso era and accelerated under Arbeloa, the board is reportedly searching for a transformative figure to restore order. This has positioned Jose Mourinho as the primary candidate for the job; the “Special One” is viewed as a leader of men who can prioritize personality management and psychological discipline to stabilize a roster currently at war with itself.
After the latest win over Al-Ahli, Al Nassr visit Al-Qadisiya, looking for a victory that brings them closer to the Saudi Pro League title. Given his major impact in front of goal, fans are closely watching Cristiano Ronaldo’s status for the match, as he is expected to be a difference-maker. Al Nassr have put together an impressive run of 16 consecutive victories, moving ever closer to the Saudi Pro League title. With this in mind, they visit Al-Qadisiya today, aiming to extend their strong streak with the attacking firepower that makes them the league’s top offensive team. To that end, fans are keeping a close eye on Cristiano Ronaldo’s status ahead of the game, as he is expected to be decisive. Cristiano Ronaldo has managed to avoid injuries and physical fatigue in recent matches, so he is in top condition. With this in mind, Al Nassr head coach Jorge Jesus will start him, as he is coming off a goal in the previous game and could do it again. Additionally, the Portuguese striker will be looking to close the gap on Julián Quiñones and Ivan Toney in the scoring charts. Coupled with the Portuguese veteran, Al Nassr will line up Joao Felix, aiming again for the imposing offensive duo that has dominated the league. After losing the last four encounters against Al-Qadisiya, they are set to impose their prowess, securing first place in the charts. For that reason, Iñigo Martinez and Mohamed Simakan will lead the defense again, looking to stop Julián Quiñones’ good form. While Al-Qadisiya are not competing to win the Saudi Pro League, they have been one of the league’s top teams. With their attacking firepower led by Julián Quiñones, they will look to defeat Al Nassr as they push to fight for third place in the standings. Additionally, they could take advantage of the large spaces left by head coach Jorge Jesus’s high press to secure a fifth consecutive victory. Cristiano Ronaldo of team Al Nassr FC after the Saudi Pro League game between Al Nassr and Al Ahli Al-Qadisiya lineup vs Al Nassr Al-Qadisiya enter the match against Al Nassr with four key absences: Waleed Al-Ahmad, Turki Al-Ammar, Mateo Retegui, and Julian Weigl due to injury. As a result, head coach Brendan Rodgers will expected to make significant changes to his starting lineup, as they have managed to shine offensively. However, they face the tough challenge of being consistent defensively, as Cristiano Ronaldo’s team is the best attacking side in the Saudi Pro League. Considering this, Al-Qadisiya will play as follows: Koen Casteels; Muhammad Abu al-Shamat, Jehad Thakri, Nacho Fernández, Gastón Álvarez; Musab Al-Juwayr, Nahitan Nández, Otavio, Christopher Bonsu Baah; Abdullah Al Salem, Julian Quiñones. Al Nassr lineup vs Al-Qadisiya Like Al-Qadisiya, Al Nassr enter today’s match with three absences: Raghid Alaa Najjar, Mubarak Buainain, and Sami Al-Najei. However, head coach Jorge Jesus still has his top players in peak condition, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Joao Felix standing out the most. In addition, they have Kingsley Coman and Angelo, who can dominate with their pace. Despite this, they face the difficult task of stopping Julián Quiñones, who is in excellent goal-scoring form. With this in mind, Al Nassr will lineup as follows: Bento Krepski; Nawaf Boushal, Mohamed Simakan, Abdulelah Al-Amri, Iñigo Martinez; Marcelo Brozovic, Abdullah Alkhaibari; Kingsley Coman, Joao Felix, Angelo, Cristiano Ronaldo.
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