Real Madrid start life after Karim Benzema trying to wrest again the Spanish title from Barcelona because the La Liga season kicks off this weekend, seemingly content material to play the ready sport for Kylian Mbappe. Benzema, the reigning Ballon d’Or, swapped the Santiago Bernabeu for Saudi Arabia in June after 14 seasons in Madrid, the place he’s second on the membership’s all-time goalscoring checklist with 354 — trailing solely Cristiano Ronaldo. In a bid to bridge the 10-point hole that separated them from Barcelona final season, Madrid splashed out 103 million euros ($112 million) on England worldwide Jude Bellingham and swooped for Turkish prodigy Arda Guler.

But Mbappe, who has scored 212 objectives in 260 video games for Paris Saint-Germain, is the participant they’ve lengthy focused.

After lacking out on the France captain final yr as he agreed a brand new deal to remain in Paris, Madrid once more seem the probably vacation spot for Mbappe, who’s locked in a contract dispute with PSG.

Mbappe is coaching with PSG’s reserves and has been informed he should signal a brand new contract if he needs to stay with the French champions this time period.

PSG are thought to suspect that Mbappe has already struck a deal to affix the Spanish giants without spending a dime in June 2024, however Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has been reluctant to broach the topic publicly.

Mbappe “is a player who is not at Madrid,” Ancelotti stated final month. “To talk about players who are not here, it doesn’t seem right to me.”

Spotlight on Vinicius

While Madrid weigh up a late bid for the exiled Mbappe earlier than this switch window shuts, Vinicius Junior is ready to change into the focus of the assault after inheriting the quantity seven shirt worn by Ronaldo, Raul and Emilio Butragueno.

Ancelotti plans to experiment with a system that exploits the attacking potential of Bellingham and Guler, with veteran striker additionally Joselu making a shock return to his former membership.

The 33-year-old journeyman, who performed twice for Madrid in 2011, completed because the top-scoring Spaniard with 16 objectives for Espanyol final season.

“For me, the squad has improved,” stated Ancelotti. “We have lost a player who has been fundamental for years in Karim… a club legend. But we have a very young group that we are convinced will give us a lot of satisfaction.”

Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez has questioned whether or not he has sufficient depth for the upcoming season after a comparatively quiet summer season. That concern is even higher with the membership unable as but to register their new arrivals.

A yr in the past, the Catalan membership’s board offered off numerous property to lift sufficient cash to adjust to spending restrictions imposed on the membership, however that did not cease them luring a raft of recent signings together with Robert Lewandowski.

Twelve months on, Barcelona have continued their latest coverage of hiring skilled gamers at zero switch value, albeit fewer, bringing in Manchester City’s treble-winning captain Ilkay Gundogan.

They toyed with the concept of re-signing Lionel Messi, however the membership’s perilous monetary scenario successfully dominated out a reunion and the Argentine as a substitute moved to Inter Miami.

Can Barcelona change Busquets?

Centre-back Inigo Martinez has arrived from Athletic Bilbao, with Oriol Romeu returning to his boyhood membership as what Barcelona hope can be a low-price substitute for Sergio Busquets.

The lack of the influential Busquets, who joined Messi and Jordi Alba in Miami this summer season, is one among Xavi’s best worries.

“A player who has been so important for us, on and off the pitch… we have to find a very important player to replace Busquets,” Xavi stated in May.

“We have to find this piece, if we want to compete well.”

French winger Ousmane Dembele can also be poised to go away Barcelona after receiving a suggestion from PSG.

Atletico Madrid completed third final season, only a level behind their metropolis rivals after a vastly improved second half, and hope a bolstered defence can strengthen their title prospects.

Cesar Azpilicueta signed from Chelsea, with Turkey’s Caglar Soyuncu arriving from Leicester and left-back Javi Galan shifting from Celta Vigo.

Joao Felix, the membership’s report signing in 2019, just isn’t seen as a part of coach Diego Simeone’s plans following his return from an unsuccessful mortgage at Chelsea, and is predicted to be offloaded.

Real Sociedad, who certified for the Champions League, have introduced in Portugal ahead Andre Silva on mortgage following the retirement of Spain nice David Silva after a severe knee harm suffered throughout pre-season.

Villarreal, fifth final time period, are set for a rebuild after shedding Nicolas Jackson and Pau Torres to the Premier League, and Samuel Chukwueze to AC Milan.

Granada are again within the prime flight after securing promotion on the first try together with play-off winners Alaves, with Las Palmas returning after a five-year absence.

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