Goalkeepers
Rafa Benítez was unveiled as Real Madrid manager on 3 June. Since then he has taken the bull by the horns and brought together the biggest names in the club: “In spite of what has been said, Iker, Sergio, Cristiano, Isco, Bale... nobody has asked to play here or there.” It is no secret that the club has its sights set on David De Gea as its future goalkeeper, but the problem lies in the fact that Iker Casillas is under contract until 2017 and, although Madrid still want to rely on his services, it would be as number three behind De Gea and Keylor Navas. That said, Benítez has promised to help the club captain and believes he deserves a fitting send-off after 25 years at the club. Meanwhile, Madrid hopes that the skipper opts to wave goodbye given that it would save them 14.5 million euros if his current contract is settled (he would receive 7.5 million euros next season and 7 million in the 2016-17 campaign, should he stay). Currently, there are a whole host of interested suitors that include Roma, Tottenham, Arsenal, Fenerbahçe and the New York Cosmos, although Los Blancos are yet resolve the situation with De Gea.
No new signings
No sooner had he arrived at the club than Benitez’s priority was a midfielder, someone to play down the right-hand side and a centre-forward. As things stand none of these wishes have been fulfilled and the club has denied any contact with Pogba and Verratti. Benítez had no say in bringing in Danilo, but was involved in bringing back Casemiro for 7.5 million euros. Furthermore, Los Blancos have a cap on their signings given that they have already invested 59.2 million euros this fiscal year on Danilo, Lucas Silva, Casemiro, Odegaard and Marco Asensio, which essentially means they need to sell before they can buy.
Conflicts in the situation with the medical staff
Madrid have handed maximim power to Jesús Olmo, who has been heavily questioned by a number of players. The services of doctor Paco Morate and the physios Pedro Chueca, Juan Muro, Dani Pirri and Carlos Heredia and physical trainer Santi Lozano have been terminated. Many players have been bothered by the decision and the growing influence of Olmo, who they see as direct channel from the dressing room to the board.
Managing the pre-season tour
In the 2009-10 season Rafa Banítez had his worst season at Liverpool, finishing seventh in the Premier League and crashing out of the Champions League at the group stages. This poor return coincided with with the club’s only tour of Asia the previous summer. Paco De Miguel already warned of the detrimental effects of such a gruelling tour, for instance the reduced physical condition of players. Benítez will have to make sure he manages this situation in a tour that takes in Australia, China, Germany and Norway and covers 45,266 kilometres.
Loans and departures
As things stand Benítez’s squad is 26 strong. He will have observed his resources over the pre-season period and for certain players there is a strong likelihood they will be loaned out, for example Odegaard, Marco Asensio, Lucas Silva and Cheryshev. Meanwhile, the situation with Fernando Pacheco, Madrid’s current number three keeper who remains under contract until 2017, must be resolved given that the players return on 10 July and the De Gea deal remains unresolved.