Real Madrid keep Endrick, name Roma squad
Real Madrid visit Roma in the Champions League with Mourinho facing a former club. Predicted XI includes Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Yan Diomande, with a 2-1 away win tipped.
Mourinho reignited Real Madrid’s refereeing row, saying ‘something smells strange’ about La Liga referee appointments after Vinicius Junior’s red card against Villarreal.
Real Madrid face a setback in the race for JJ Gabriel, with the 16-year-old reportedly preferring Barcelona despite Madrid’s confidence and ongoing contact with his camp.
Real Madrid are said to see Arsenal’s Martin Zubimendi as their only viable January midfield target, with Adam Wharton ruled out and the Spaniard short of minutes.
Real Madrid are growing confident of signing 16-year-old JJ Gabriel from Manchester United, who now see his move to Spain as increasingly inevitable.
Courtois is set to sign a new Real Madrid deal, with only the length unresolved. The goalkeeper’s contract expires next summer, but the club want him to stay.
Luis Enrique challenged PSG to match Real Madrid’s unique Champions League threepeat, calling it a ‘special goal’ after back-to-back European titles.
Antonio Cassano hit out at Mourinho’s style, said Real Madrid should beat Roma, and argued Rodrygo Goes should start over Vinicius Junior, whom he does not regard as a star.
Mourinho sought calm before Roma, saying he trusts referees after the Villarreal controversy. Aurelien Tchouameni admitted frustration, while Madrid look to build on beating Inter 2-1.
Bernardo Silva has struggled for minutes under Mourinho, but Madrid’s blunt midfield displays could force change and open the door for the summer signing.
Yan Diomande scored the winner against Villarreal after Madrid’s hierarchy pushed for his start over Brahim Diaz. Vinicius Junior’s likely ban could hand the 19-year-old more minutes.
Real Madrid are backing Mourinho to revive Vinicius Junior through private talks, tailored recovery work and public support, seeing him as the ‘heart of the team’.
Mourinho praised Italy’s handling of Calciopoli and said that if nothing happens in Barcelona’s Negreira case, it could be world football’s biggest referee corruption scandal.
Kylian Mbappe has ended a 10-year relationship with lawyer Delphine Verheyden after a fees dispute linked to his 61m euro PSG case and Fayza Lamari’s role.
Mourinho told Endrick’s suitors to ‘forget it’, insisting the forward will not leave in January despite playing just 10 minutes this season after injury and interest from Roma, AC Milan and Aston Villa.
Sevilla are set to face Real Madrid without Jon Guridi, Miguel Sierra and suspended Isaac Romero, while Vinicius Junior will miss the Bernabeu game through suspension.
Real Madrid sent scouts to watch Liverpool’s Florian Wirtz and Alexis Mac Allister against Manchester City, while also tracking Erling Haaland at Anfield.
Real Madrid are predicted to beat Roma 2-1 in a difficult away Champions League tie, with Kylian Mbappe, Yan Diomande and Jude Bellingham expected to edge Mourinho’s side through.
Ahead of Real Madrid’s trip to Roma, Mourinho’s former clubs are ranked by affection, with Inter, Chelsea and Roma highest and Tottenham Hotspur bottom.
Real Madrid named their squad for Roma, with Dean Huijsen back from suspension and Vinicius Junior available. Eder Militao, Ferland Mendy, Rodrygo Goes and Raul Asencio remain out injured.
