‘Gloomy’ outlook at Madrid despite big spending spree

Atletico’s Costa suffers latest injury setback ahead of new season

Real midfielder Casemiro (right), fights for the ball with Roma’s Nicolo Zaniolo during a friendly soccer match between Roma and Real Madrid at the Olympic Stadium in

Rome on Aug 11. (AP) MADRID, Aug 13, (RTRS): Real Madrid have spent more than 300 million euros ($336.45 million) on new recruits but they head into the new La Liga season clouded by uncertainty and with pressure already building on coach Zinedine Zidane after a worrying warm-up campaign.

Madrid won only two of their seven pre-season games, shipping 18 goals and suffering three defeats including a humiliating 7-3 thrashing at the hands of local rivals Atletico Madrid and losses to Bayern Munich and Tottenham Hotspur.

Munich’s Joshua Kimmich (left), and Felix Bruegmann (right), from Cottbus challenge for the ball during the German soccer cup, DFB Pokal, first round match between FC Energie Cottbus and FC Bayern Munich in Cottbus, Germany on Aug 12. (AP)