Luis de la Fuente warns Real Madrid: 'They're both going to miss the World Cup'

Real Madrid has a squad full of stars. Vinícius, Bellingham, or Mbappé are among the best in the world in their position, and Florentino has kept filling the locker room with talent through new signings. This summer, profiles such as Dean Huijsen or Álvaro Carreras arrived to give Xabi more alternatives and raise the competitive bar.

However, despite so much individuality, the season is greatly lowering expectations. We are in January and the playing style of the white team is still not convincing, with attacks that are too predictable and little continuity in circulation. In defense, fragility and lack of commitment appear far too often, especially when the match requires running backward.

Luis de la Fuente focuses his gaze on Real Madrid

In this scenario, Luis de la Fuente is paying very close attention to what is happening at Bernabéu. The World Cup is just around the corner and the coach is not losing sight of Real Madrid. He wants to be sure he gets it right when drawing up the squad list and that is why he is carefully analyzing several Real Madrid players.

There are two Real Madrid names that, as of today, find it especially difficult to make the final squad. We are talking about Álvaro Carreras and Raúl Asencio, who started against Atlético in the Super Cup semifinal, but who did not leave the feeling of security that the elite demands. It is not that they lack talent, it is that they are not showing the week-to-week reliability that Luis de la Fuente demands in order to go to the World Cup with Spain.

Álvaro Carreras and Raúl Asencio are out of the World Cup

The case of Álvaro Carreras is the easiest to explain from a tactical standpoint. He tries, he has the will, but he is always far too exposed, with few supports ahead of him and many one-on-one situations in open field. With Raúl Asencio the debate is different, because the doubt lies in his lack of level for the demands of a tournament like the World Cup.

Therefore, from the Spanish national team’s perspective, competition becomes a problem for them. Luis de la Fuente has proven alternatives that offer more guarantees and that weighs heavily when planning the squad list. Cucurella and Grimaldo, on the flank, and center-backs such as Cubarsí or Eric himself, both from FC Barcelona, seem to be ahead.

Right now Álvaro Carreras and Raúl Asencio are out of the World Cup in Luis de la Fuente's mental picture. In fact, the coach only has 2 Real Madrid players in his sights: Huijsen and Carvajal. If the "2" and the "24" offer guarantees from now until the end of the season, they could make the World Cup squad list.