(Football news) Real Madrid under Carlo Ancelotti enjoyed a very successful season last season. Los Blancos won the La Liga and the UEFA Champions League in the first year of Ancelotti's 2nd spell at Madrid. Now Real Madrid have begun their pre-season for the 2022/23 season, having lost Luka Jovic, Marcelo, Gareth Bale and Isco for free but all four of them didn't play much last season. Real Madrid have already completed the signings of Antonio Rudiger and Aurélien Tchouaméni. As of now Madrid isn't strongly linked with any other players but that could change if there are any sales. Dani Ceballos and Marco Asensio are the two players who have been linked with a move away from the club.
Carlo Ancelotti has a lot of things to figure out in the preseason, first of which will be Karim Benzema's back-up. Real Madrid struggled a lot last season whenever Karim Benzema was injured or rested. Real Madrid have sold Jovic and it is pretty clear that Mariano isn't good enough. Madrid have been pushing to sell Mariano but the player will only leave if his wage demands are met, which looks very unlikely. Real Madrid reportedly had to pull out of Gabriel Jesus's signing because of the Non-EU issue. Borja Mayoral has returned to the club after his loan spell. He will be a good candidate to be the 2nd choice striker but Real Madrid could still sell him because there are other clubs interested in him.
Carlo Ancelotti could use Eden Hazard as a false 9 which could reignite the Belgian's career. Rodrygo is also an option to play through the middle in Benzema's absence. Ancelotti will also have to decide on Marco Asensio as well. Asensio wants to play regularly which is difficult to happen at Real Madrid. Reports suggest that Lucas Vazquez will switch to his natural right wing spot next season. Which means Dani Carvajal will require a new back up. Currently Alvaro Odriozola is back after his loan spell and Castilla player Vinicius Tobias is also training with the first team. Only one of the two players can make it to the first team squad which is upto Ancelotti.
Madrid have been very busy selling and loaning Castilla players. Plenty of academy players will be a part of the preseason and Ancelotti will be marking the players he will use next season. A few of them might leave the club while a few might even be promoted to the first team. Real Madrid will play Barcelona, CF America and Juventus on their pre-season tour in the USA. Their season will start with the UEFA Super Cup final against Frankfurt on 11th August.
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