Manager Carlo Ancelotti appeared before the press on Friday before the Real Madrid team leaves for Balaídos to face Celta Vigo in Matchday 3 of the 2022/23 campaign.
It was quite an interesting presser as the recent news upheaval surrounding Casemiro on course to joining Manchester United was made official by Ancelotti during this conference.
Here’s what Carlo said:
Regarding Casemiro
“I’ve discussed it with him this morning. He wants to try a new challenge, a new opportunity. The club understand it, with all he’s done for this club and the person he is, we have to respect it. There are talks right now, he’s still a Real Madrid player at this stage, but he wants to leave. If he goes, we have the resources to replace him”.
“I haven’t tried to convince him, I just listened, because I have spoken to Casemiro throughout my time here and he has helped us so much. Having heard what he wants, there’s no way back. If he doesn’t stay, we’ll have an enormous sense of gratitude to him for all he’s done. We have replacements within the squad. Tchouameni was signed for this position and he’s one of the best central midfielders on the market right now, then we’ve got Kroos, who can play in that position too, just like he did in my second year here, and there’s Camavinga as well”.
Regarding possible replacements for Casemiro
“We have other players with different attributes because it’s not only a player with the same qualities as Casemiro who can play that position. In my teams I’ve had players like Pirlo in that position, who had very different attributes to Casemiro but did a great job. Tchouameni is more similar to Casemiro than Kroos in the defensive elements but Kroos can absolutely play there too”.
“If Casemiro leaves, we have six central midfielders, with Modrić, Kroos, Tchouameni, Camavinga, Valverde and Ceballos. With Casemiro we’ve got seven but I think six is enough to negotiate the season. They are six top quality players”.
“I realised this might actually happen yesterday but Real Madrid’s plans don’t change. Our plans are to fight and compete in every competition, which we will do with or without Casemiro. That said, everyone is well aware of how important the player is and how much we love him”.
Will new signing Aurelien Tchouameni be able to replace Casemiro?
“He has to learn, get used to it and improve his positioning. He’s powerful in one-on-one situations, very strong in the air, he’s got good feet and gets into the box well. I’m not going to ask him to play like Casemiro, because we have to take advantage of his box-to-box qualities. He’s very young and he has to improve but he’s ready to play for Real Madrid”.
The squad’s reaction to his unexpected tremor?
“They respect and understand it. If you want to assess it, you have to consider the affection and respect everyone at Real Madrid has for him. When he wants to take on a new challenge, we have to understand it and accept it with respect and affection. We’re not angry or sad. Of course, when you’ve worked for so long with a person as friendly, disciplined and professional as he is, you’re not thrilled about it but the respect for his decision must come first”.
“He has to learn, get used to it and improve his positioning. He’s powerful in one-on-one situations, very strong in the air, he’s got good feet and gets into the box well. I’m not going to ask him to play like Casemiro, because we have to take advantage of his box-to-box qualities. He’s very young and he has to improve but he’s ready to play for Real Madrid”.
