Real Madrid is ready and needs no signings, says Ancelotti

29.12.2022 - 19:29 channelnewsasia.com

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti said his team does not need winter signings as it is in good shape to resume the season in LaLiga, where they trail leaders Barcelona by two points.The Italian coach considers that having healthy players, such as striker Karim Benzema, will be the key to face the schedule that awaits the Madrid side, who will be looking to defend their LaLiga, Spanish Super Cup and Champions League titles."We're very excited to be back.

We have Benzema back, who is very important for us," Ancelotti told reporters on Thursday."The calendar is going to demand a lot from us.

The Spanish Super Cup, the Club World Cup ... there will be a lot of games until March."We will make individual assessments of the players, that's the key.

We will ration who needs rest and who needs work. In terms of signings, we don't need any. I think we're better off than last year."Ancelotti also praised Argentina's World Cup winning captain Lionel Messi but avoided labelling him the best player in history."(Messi) has done very well, and he is a great footballer.

Football Barcelona Lionel Messi Carlo Ancelotti Spain Italy Argentina

MADRID: Barcelona won the Spanish Super Cup for the first time since the competition was revamped and moved to Saudi Arabia with a 3-1 victory over Real Madrid on Sunday. Robert Lewandowski, Gavi and Pedri scored a goal each at King Fahd Stadium in Riyadh to give Barcelona its first Super Cup trophy since 2018 — and its 14th overall — and the first since the tournament began being played in a Final Four format in 2020 in a lucrative deal for the Spanish soccer federation. It was also Barcelona’s first title since former player Xavi took over as the team’s coach in 2021, and since Lionel Messi left for Paris Saint-Germain.

Barcelona beats Madrid 3-1 to win Super Cup in Saudi Arabia

Gavi shines as Barca beat Madrid to win Spanish Super Cup

Barcelona convincingly beat Real Madrid 3-1 in Saudi Arabia on Sunday to win the Spanish Super Cup, their first trophy since coach Xavi Hernandez took over.

Barcelona see off Madrid in Saudi Arabia to claim Super Cup

Barcelona triumphed in the Clasico Spanish Super Cup final as goals from Gavi, Robert Lewandowski and Pedri steered them to a 3-1 victory over Real Madrid in Saudi Arabia.

Lelah Doroh makes history in first evening of Kings and Princes Cups Festival

RIYADH: The first evening of the 8th edition of the Kings and Princes Cups Festival concluded on Friday at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Janadriyah, in an event organized by the Jockey Club.

Dakar Rally to remain in Saudi Arabia, say organizers

AL-HOFUF, Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia will continue to be the home of the Dakar Rally for the next few years with race director David Castera telling AFP “we still have so many deserts to explore.”Castera was speaking after Saturday’s penultimate stage with Qatari Nasser Al-Attiyah poised for his fifth title.“I’m very happy we’re staying here, with so many deserts still to explore and with this country’s enormous potential,” he said.Motorsport’s toughest endurance test moved to the conservative Kingdom in 2020 after a spell in South America on an initial 10-year contract.Dakar organizers ASO announced the switch in 2019 saying a new chapter of the gruelling race’s history would be written in the “mysterious and vast deserts” of the land.Castera confirmed a clause in the Saudi deal to pull out after five years would not be taken up.“Today there’s been a big change, it’s progressing at a fast rate,” commented Castera.“I’m not here to play politics but to organize a sporting event which has the legitimacy to exist here because the terrain suits it.”Saudi Arabia has invested heavily in attracting high profile sporting events including tennis, golf and Formula One to its shores and is preparing a joint bid to host the 2030 World Cup.And last month five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo signed for Saudi side Al-Nassr in a deal worth 200 million euros.In the race, Al-Attiyah should complete the cruise to his fifth title.