First of all, I want to thank you for the great work you do for everyone and for the respect and help towards me.
It is being a vibrant and exciting journey. It started to pick up speed in 2019, when I was promoted to the Real Madrid section of Diario AS. Starting from zero, I tried to make some contacts, things were working and after two years I had the opportunity to join GOAL.
Goal was a huge challenge that changed my career. They gave me a lot of confidence, I was able to cover my first European Championship and, yes, I gave the first big news about Mbappé, which made more people know my work.
At MARCA I continued to grow and enjoy myself, surrounded by the best in Spain. I always wanted to work at MARCA and it was wonderful until the end, covering my first World Cup.
Totally unexpectedly, the opportunity came to join The Athletic, the media outlet that probably has the most credibility. I couldn’t say no to feeling part of them, and I’m on it, learning every day because the treatment of information in The Athletic is a constant learning process. They are amazing.
In parallel I have also been enjoying different projects on Twitch or Youtube, but of course I have to highlight The Four Amigos Podcast. There are no words to describe what that show means to me and the rest of the members.
Bellingham:
A roller coaster of a transfer. Real Madrid was more satisfied until the 2022 World Cup, but after the pessimism came into play. In the last few weeks, as a result of progress in talks with the player, that shifted to optimism.
I cannot say the ‘deal is imminent’ like other respected media’s have. The reason is that the clubs had not started formal negotiations, so there can be no imminent signing in my opinion.
What I do know, and this admitting first that I am not the journalist with the most access to this soap opera, is that Bellingham has told Real Madrid that he loves their project.
Between the €150M that David Ornstein reported at The Athletic that Dortmund wanted and the around €100M that Real Madrid wanted to spend, they have to find a figure to meet each other and agree the price. Variables will be key, as happened a year ago with Tchouameni. In fact, the process should resemble it to seal the signing.
(Photo by Joachim Bywaletz/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
Mbappe:
The player has regretted to have stayed at PSG because he felt betrayed, as the project was not what the club promised him. He wants to play one day at Real Madrid. Real Madrid have always maintained a relationship, higher or lower depending on the times, with player’s entourage.
There is a lot of talk about whether something could happen this summer. I am told that it is almost impossible, not to say fully impossible because this case has shown that 1,000 things can happen.
The first thing is to know what the player will do and how he communicates it to PSG about the extra year he can extend his contract, until 2025, and that it is a unilateral decision. We must wait and see.
(Photo by Catherine Steenkeste/Getty Images)
Right-back situation:
I see signing any right-back as difficult, beyond what may happen with Vinicius Tobias. Dani Carvajal will continue. I don’t see Lucas Vázquez leaving either as things stand, although he wants to play more and this is frustrating sometimes for him. Odriozola’s entourage did tell me months ago that he would be more open to leaving this summer, but I want to see it because it is always very difficult any player to leave Real Madrid. With that situation, it is very complicated for the club to make big moves in that position.
Moussa Diaby:
I was recently told by single source that Real Madrid like him, but that the price was too high, especially for him not being such a proven player to accept his price tag. Don’t have more details at this point. Let’s see what happens with Asensio, what is decided with Brahim and etc.
(Photo by Harry Langer/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
Ferland Mendy:
There has been concern at the club for quite some time because of his continuous injuries, which makes me think that they would listen to offers for him. However, as I said with Odriozola, and in the case of Mendy all the more so because he is the theoretical starter, it is difficult for a player under contract at Real Madrid to want to leave.
(Photo by Cesar Cebolla / Pressinphoto / Icon Sport)
Dani Olmo:
His entourage says that there has been some contact with Real Madrid and his club, but he is not a player who is of interest. It seems to me that there may have been some conversation, but very superficial. I don’t see Olmo as a real candidate for Real Madrid. Having his name linked with the white club is going to help him because he has a good contract situation and clubs with higher aspirations than RB Leipzig are keeping an eye on him.
Brahim:
The last I heard was only the final details were missing for his renewal. We’ll have to see what the plans are for him next season. I think he has a good chance of staying in the first team, but I don’t know if it has been decided.
Kubo:
Another player I like a lot and who has grown a lot this season, in a very attractive Real Sociedad team and with great results. Real Madrid haven’t called him since last summer, despite the fact that they still hold 50% of his economic rights. Kubo’s release clause is 60 million euros. There are several clubs that have called his agents to know about his situation. However, he is very, very happy at the club and in the city, and the most feasible scenario now is that he will continue at least one more season in San Sebastian.
(Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)