Santiago Solari has named 23 Real Madrid players that will be heading to Abu Dhabi for the FIFA Club World Cup in the third week of December.
Real Madrid head to the United Arab Emirates two weeks from now to defend their FIFA Club World Cup crown and win it for a third year on the trot. The Whites will play two matches across a week against opponents which are yet to be revealed. The semi-final will be played on the 19th of December and the final or third place tie will be held on December 22nd. Both matches will be played at the Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
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Santiago Solari has submitted a list of 23 players who he will be taking to the Emirati capital for his team’s last two matches of the 2018 calendar year. Here are the players who will be travelling to Asia.
The Real Madrid squad of 23 players will constitute three goalkeepers where there are no surprises as such. Belgium international Thibaut Courtois will be heading, as will Keylor Navas and third choice goalkeeper Kiko Casilla. Luca Zidane will not fly to the Emirates.
Santiago Solari has opted with taking seven defenders to the Club World Cup. Dani Carvajal and Alvaro Odriozola are the two right backs, whereas Marcelo and Sergio Reguilon will be the left backs. The three central defenders are Sergio Ramos, Nacho Fernandez and Raphael Varane. Jesus Vallejo will stay in Spain only.
A number of midfielders will be heading to Abu Dhabi. Casemiro and the recently rejuvenated Marcos Llorente will travel along with inevitable names in Luka Modric, Isco and Toni Kroos. Marco Asensio, Dani Ceballos and Federico Valverde make the cut as well.
The five expected front men from Real Madrid are going to be the final names on the 23 men squad sheet. Vinicius Junior is one of them, whereas Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema, Lucas Vazquez and Mariano Diaz have all gotten the call up as well.
Will Real Madrid win their third FIFA Club World Cup crown on the bounce?