Kilometer Zero.
Rafa Benitez called all his players yesterday for today at 17:00, although they will start training tomorrow. The coach wants it to be just a day of presentations. James, Casemiro (will go directly to the summer tour because they played the Copa America) and Marco Asensio (is playing the European U19 in Greece) will be absent. Benitez will start with 24 out of the 27 players in his squad. And with too many open fronts. The main one, the expected departures of the two captains (Ramos and Casillas). He has also not received the signings that the last coaches of the Florentino era did. Danilo was done (31.5 million) before he arrived and they have only brought him Casemiro (7.5) and Lucas Vazquez (1).
The preseason.
The first open front that Benitez will encounter is the preseason itself, which has been planned (training location, duration, trips, friendlies and dates) without taking him into account. His physical trainer, Paco de Miguel, already warned in his blog in 2012 about the dangers of this type of tours (Real Madrid will travel 45,266 km), of which he said "training is reduced by 17%". But now the coach is more concerned about certain aspects of his squad.
Kiko Casilla.
The latest movement for Kiko Casilla indicates that Real Madrid is not clear about what will happen in the goal. Yesterday they were negotiating for the former Castilla player with Espanyol, although they had already leaked the news to the media beforehand (that's why President Joan Collet hurried to say "that three million, nothing at all"). The goalkeeper's clause is 20 million and Real Madrid has 50% of his rights. Espanyol would only be willing to lower the ten million they would have to receive by a little.
The reason for Kiko Casilla's arrival.
If Iker Casillas' transfer to Porto materializes and with Keylor injured in the Achilles tendon for three weeks (the operation is not ruled out), Real Madrid would only have Pacheco and Ruben Yanez (last year's starter at Castilla) in Australia. A very uncomfortable situation. The white club knows that the signing of De Gea will take a long time (until the last days of the transfer window), as United has linked his sale to the purchase of Ramos. But even if De Gea comes, it is not certain. Kiko Casilla will be like a wild card for Real Madrid when Casillas leaves. If De Gea comes, the club has a problem: they will have to loan or sell Kiko Casilla or Keylor. If De Gea does not come, they will keep both.
There is no central like Ramos.
If Ramos goes to United, there is no replacement of his caliber in the market. The defense will be devalued. Garay, a 28-year-old center-back represented by Jorge Mendes, who Real Madrid already sold in 2011, is a possibility. Otamendi is ruled out, as United has already made a deal for him (Mendes has been negotiating it). And Mustafi is also in the background. In addition to the arrival of Garay or Mustafi (if Ramos leaves), Real Madrid would have Pepe and Varane as center-backs, and Nacho.
Muscle in midfield.
Benitez asked for muscle in midfield and they brought back Casemiro for 7.5 million. But the coach has given the green light to the loan or sale of Illarramendi (who cost 40 million) if they bring in another midfielder with more physical presence. Real Madrid has set their sights on William Carvalho, a 23-year-old midfielder from Sporting Lisbon represented by Jorge Mendes. This line also does not seem to have the final components yet.
Managing the BBC.
With so much uncertainty about such important positions in his team, it will have been difficult for Benitez to imagine how he wants his Madrid to play. For this, he has another hot potato inherited from the Ancelotti era: the BBC. It remains to be seen how he fits it into his ideal 4-2-3-1, or if he does away with it: in that case, Benzema would be the big loser. His initial intention was to play Cristiano up front and move Bale back to the left, where he has asked to play (he did so through his agent in the meeting he had with Florentino at the Bernabeu at the end of last season).
The medical staff.
As if that were not enough, Benitez will have to deal with the discontent that the presence of Doctor Olmo at the head of the medical staff generates in a large part of the squad, which destabilized the team a lot last season.