Huijsen blasts VAR as Valverde faces ankle layoff

Huijsen says the derby calls would have caused an outcry the other way

Real Madrid 2–1 Atlético Madrid, and Dean Huijsen is not letting the refereeing go. The defender aimed his criticism straight at VAR for staying out of Kang-in Lee's challenge on Fede Valverde (3). "If the incidents we saw against Atlético Madrid had happened the other way around, the outcry would have been enormous" (3). You won the derby and still walked away with a grievance.

Valverde out with a third-degree ankle sprain

Fede Valverde has a third-degree sprain in his left ankle (3). Real Madrid gave no timeframe for how long he is out (3). That is your midfield, and you do not know for how long.

Fourth in the table, six behind Barça

You are 4th on 15 points after 7 games, six behind Barcelona, who have 21 from 7 rounds (3). Form reads L W W W L. Rich vein, then a derby loss.

Get the next Real Madrid CF brief by email

This article went out to subscribers as a brief. Get the next one straight to your inbox, free.

Free · No spam · Unsubscribe anytime

35 injuries at centre-back in three seasons

Centre-back is the sore spot. 35 injuries and 1,701 days out at the position over the last three seasons, with Konaté linked (1). Huijsen and the rest of that unit carry the load.

Barcola went to Liverpool instead

Liverpool beat Real Madrid to Barcola, telling him "you're not worth it" (2). You were in the fight. You lost it.

Güler stays, a central midfielder is the winter priority

Arda Güler will not leave (5). The club will prioritise signing a central midfielder in the winter market (5).

Castaño: the problem is Barça

Juanma Castaño framed it plainly: "El problema del Madrid no soy yo. El problema del Madrid es que el Barça está a seis puntos y juega muy bien al fútbol. Y yo ahí no pinto nada" (4). He called it "a crusade of Florentino" (4).

Madrid back in for Ouazane, 17

Real Madrid have renewed interest in Abdellah Ouazane, the 17-year-old Moroccan midfielder at Ajax, after coming close in 2025 (7).

Fan reactions

The mood is a mix of pragmatism and old wounds. Konaté's injury has fans worried about the defence and fed up with the international calendar, while one poster reminded the sub that a decade of dominance was never going to last. Others want to see the kids. The most talked-about thread is the warning to fans who complain every week: the Chorreo day and the years.

Sources

  • 1. marca.com — Konaté pone a temblar al Madrid<br>
  • 2. liverpoolecho.co.uk — Liverpool latest: Real Madrid beaten in transfer fight as Barcola told 'you're not worth it'
  • 3. goal.com — Huijsen on the derby: if the mistakes had favoured Real Madrid there would have been an enormous uproar
  • 4. marca.com — Juanma Castaño: "Es una cruzada de Florentino"<br>
  • 5. bernabeudigital.com — Bloqueo total a la salida de Arda Güler y movimientos invernales en el Real Madrid
  • 7. africasoccer.com — Real Madrid renew interest in Moroccan youngster Abdellah Ouazane
Get the next Real Madrid CF brief by email

This article went out to subscribers as a brief. Get the next one straight to your inbox, free.

Free · No spam · Unsubscribe anytime

Share this article