NEW MADRID LOOK REAL FRIGHTENING
City and Arsenal better make hay now...champions League may quickly become Bernabeu property
ARSENAL and Manchester City supporters are bracing themselves not only for a thrilling end to the season but also for the prospect of a Premier League/champions League double.
For either club, it would be the most remarkable achievement in a season of astonishing competition for both prizes. The Premier League, with 10 games to go, is a three-horse race with only one point separating the Gunners, Liverpool and City.
And the Champions League quarter-final draw was a lesson in the European cream rising to the top – Arsenal v Bayern Munich, Real Madrid v Manchester City, Atletico Madrid v Borussia Dortmund, and Paris Saint-germain v Barcelona.
City, of course, are defending champions in both competitions but for Arsenal this season is a chance to re-establish themselves as a powerhouse – a shot at a first domestic title in 20 years since the Invincibles season and an opportunity to be acclaimed champions of Europe for the first time.
But if what is developing in Madrid is anything to go by, a warning might be to win that elusive European Cup now. That could apply not only to the Gunners but to every club in Europe because the team-building taking place in the Spanish capital matches the rebuilt version of the Bernabeu itself.
Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice got a close-up look at it at Wembley on Saturday night when he faced Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo and the latest Madrid recruit, Endrick (above) – as well as England team-mate Jude Bellingham,.
Endrick, the 17-year-old Palmeiras striker, stepped off the bench at Wembley to ignite the game with a couple of threatening runs and the only goal of the night. Not a bad way to introduce himself to the continent where he will ply his trade once he turns 18 in July, having signed for Madrid in 2022.
By the time he steps off his summer flight to Spain he may well find he is partnering someone who also reached superstar status a teenager: France forward Kylian Mbappe is seemingly on his way to Madrid as well.
Good luck to whoever is managing Real next season trying to name a front six from Bellingham (20), Rodrygo (23), Federico Valverde (25), Vinicius Junior (23), Mbappe (25), Eduardo Camavinga (21), Brahim Diaz (24), and Endrick.
Yes, you read that correctly, they are all 25 and under. And Mbappe has reportedly urged Madrid to bust a gut to sign Bayern Munich full-back
Alphonso Davies (23) and Lille centre-back Leny Yoro (18), while the Spanish giants have also been sniffing around Liverpool with an eye on Trent Alexander-arnold’s contract situation. TAA is just 25.
This is a club seemingly hell-bent on creating a new breed of Galacticos.
Mbappe’s Madrid career may start with a bump in the road over his desire to play for France in his home-town Olympics this summer. “I always wanted to play at the Olympics and my desire has not changed,” PSG superstar Mbappe said.
“If I play the Olympics then it will be a dream but, if I’m not allowed to, then I will do as I’m told. The decision is still up to one person and they haven’t told me yes or no.” Madrid want him on a pre-season tour.
But, as France’s Olympic manager Thierry Henry concluded, if you are as good as Mbappe situations of demand are commonplace.
“This is a problem for players when they are so good,” said Henry. “They find themselves in a situation where they have to go to the Euros. If you get to the Champions League you have to play that, if you go deep at the Euros the season is longer.
“Kylian said that he would like to play at the Olympics but he also said that it will depend on the team. The Olympic Games are not on the FIFA dates so the teams can say no.”
Once that crease is ironed out however, Mbappe could be part of a devastating line-up of young talent in all-white. Arsenal, Manchester City et al, beware... Los Blancos mean business.