Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti will have most of his first-team missing for their clash against AC Milan, as their stars return in dribs and drabs to preseason training. They will be without Kylian Mbappe and David Alaba for the whole of their preseason tour though.
The former will join team training when they return from the US, and Antonio Rudiger will join up with the team in the USA, as will be the case for Rodrygo Goes and Vinicius Junior. Without some of their stars, they are struggling to sell out their first friendly against AC Milan, although tickets are long gone for their Clasico clash several days later.
Relevo say there are still 6,000 tickets for #RealMadrid's first preseason friendly with #ACMilan at Chicago's 61,000 capacity Soldier Field.
Tickets range from $80 to $5k. pic.twitter.com/Ng9p1uMgGG
— Football España (@footballespana_) July 29, 2024
One player that will be present is Brazilian sensation Endrick Felipe, who was presented to the fans on Saturday. The 18-year-old rushed back his return to join up with the side for their preseason tour. However Diario AS also say that Endrick will not be given much in the way of minutes in their preseason tour, and Ancelotti wants to see him bit by bit – mostly in training. They are keen to avoid a case like Vitor Roque at Barcelona, where the 19-year-old’s introduction was a long way from smooth, and now it appears he will likely be on his way out this summer.
Similarly, Ancelotti has decisions to make at the back. With David Alaba out, and Jesus Vallejo dealing with some muscle discomfort, youngsters Jacobo Ramon, Raul Asencio and Joan Martinez have been brought with the side, and could be given a chance. The latter, just 16 years old, has required a tutor to be brought with him and special permission from his parents to make the trip.
Rudiger, who is just returning to the fold, will not be used in their first match against AC Milan on the 1st of August, but should be back for their Clasico on the 5th. Eder Militao will be back in training in the US, but is unlikely to feature until the final match against Chelsea, say Relevo. It leaves Raul Asencio in pole position to start against Milan, while Ramon, Martinez and Vallejo will likely battle for a spot alongside him, the latter due to fitness concerns.
Both Barcelona and Real Madrid are starting their preseason campaigns without much in the way of first-team resources. It will be interesting to see if it impacts their start to the season, with both sides starting with tricky away trips, at Valencia and RCD Mallorca respectively.
