Ancelotti may not have any of the three players fit for the European Super Cup on August 14 against Atalanta.
Real Madrid kick off pre-season next Monday at the Valdebebas Sports City, but they will do so without any new faces apart from those returning from loans such as Vallejo or Reinier, although the latter does not even have a squad number. Carlo Ancelotti will not have the international players who have participated, or are participating, in the European Championship and Copa América, who are entitled to a minimum of three weeks’ holiday after being eliminated with their countries in these tournaments.
The Italian is only waiting for two internationals who were knocked out early on, Modric and Lunin, although their arrival could be delayed, as they will have just completed the minimum holiday period and could extend it for a few more days. The others will be gradually incorporated into the team depending on the date on which they were eliminated with their national teams.
Returning on a drip feed
The last to be eliminated was Valverde in the early hours of this morning, with Uruguay’s defeat to Colombia in the Copa América semi-finals (0-1). ‘El Pajarito’ will have to join the team between August 1st, two days after the French players, who were knocked out by Spain on Tuesday. However, they could do so earlier if they wish, depending on their fatigue and the time they need to recover and ‘detox’ from a season full of football and high demands.
But there are three players who will be the last to arrive for pre-season. On the one hand, the two Euro 2024 finalists, Carvajal and Bellingham, and on the other Mbappé, who will not start his holidays until his presentation next Tuesday, July 16th. They will have to return three weeks later, which means that the first two will arrive from August 3rd, and the Frenchman on the 5th, as long as they meet expectations.
Little preparation
If they do not do so earlier, Ancelotti will have them under his orders for less than 10 days before facing the first official match of the season. This will be on August 14th in Warsaw with the European Super Cup at stake against Atalanta. These three players, as well as Valverde and the other three Frenchmen, will barely have time to face a pre-season necessary to acquire a physical level in line with the rest of their teammates.
The three of them will arrive at the limit to face the first title of the season. For Mbappé it would be his debut in a Real Madrid shirt. Ancelotti is sure to count on them, but it is unlikely that he will risk them given their short preparation. Another thing is that they are on the bench and he uses them if necessary. The season will be very long and full of commitments for a team that is the favorite in all of them.
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