Jorge Cestero of Real Madrid
Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images
According to AS, Real Madrid youngster Jorge Cestero will be available for Castilla for tomorrow’s match against Atletico Madrileno at the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium.
The disciplinary sanction imposed by the club, following his disagreement with manager Julian Lopez de Lerma, that kept the midfielder out of the clash against Alcorcon is now considered a thing of the past.
Internally, the situation is regarded as resolved by all parties, with the intention of returning to normality.
What happened between Cestero and Lopez de Lerma
The situation began during the match against Sant Andreu, which ended in a 1-1 draw with Cestero remaining on the bench throughout. His omission initially came as a surprise.
The circumstances became clearer when he was subsequently left out of the squad for the match against Alcorcon, which Castilla lost 2-1.
Jorge Cestero of Real Madrid
Cestero recently had a disagreement with Castilla head coach. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
After seeing that he was not included in the starting line-up against the Catalan side, Cestero asked for an explanation and had a disagreement with Lopez de Lerma.
Following the dispute, the club decided to intervene and sanction the youngster, leading to the midfielder being left out of the following match.
Now, according to the report, the matter has now been formally closed.
Cestero returns to the Castilla squad
The resolution means Lopez de Lerma can once again call upon a player who had been an important part of his plans whenever first-team commitments had allowed him to play for Castilla.
Julian Lopez de Lerma, head coach of Real Madrid Castilla
Julian Lopez de Lerma sees Cestero as a key part of the team. (Photo by Molly Darlington/Getty Images)
The coach had already emphasised Cestero’s importance when asked about the situation, saying:
“We are in a development environment. We want all the players to be able to show themselves, compete and be part of the team. Jorge is, and will be, a very important player for us this season.”
Cestero is therefore expected to be available again for the reserve-team derby between Castilla and Atletico Madrileno tomorrow, bringing an end to the disciplinary episode.
Despite the incident, Cestero remains highly rated at Real Madrid. He made his senior debut last season, playing five times in all competitions.
The young midfielder then did the pre-season with the first team under Jose Mourinho and was even named in the matchday squads for some games at the start of the season.
Real Madrid’s midfield dilemma: Mourinho yet to solve the double pivot after eight games
Jose Mourinho, Manager of Real Madrid
Photo by Mateo Villalba Sanchez/Getty Images
Real Madrid’s midfield has become one of the biggest questions facing Jose Mourinho, with the manager yet to settle on a reliable double pivot after eight matches.
As explained by MARCA, the lack of attacking fluency has placed the midfield under particular scrutiny.
The outlet mentions that for now, Federico Valverde appears to be the only player Mourinho considers untouchable, while the identity of his partner has continued to change.
That uncertainty is especially notable given Real Madrid’s activity during the summer.
The club wanted a midfielder capable of controlling and directing play but ultimately signed Bernardo Silva, whose profile does not completely solve that particular requirement.
Federico Valverde of Real Madrid
Only Valverde’s position is certain in Mourinho’s midfield. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)
Quite interestingly, Real Madrid have used four different double pivots across eight matches, while seven different midfield formations have been tried overall, including defender Trent Alexander-Arnold.
However, the problem is that none of Mourinho’s available options has provided a straightforward answer alongside Valverde.
Aurelien Tchouameni offers considerable defensive strength, but his ability to dictate possession and progress the ball is not regarded as his strongest attribute, making a partnership with Valverde difficult to balance.
Eduardo Camavinga presents a different profile, although Mourinho has yet to show complete trust in the Frenchman, having started just twice this season.
Bernardo Silva brings the technical qualities that could potentially improve Madrid’s control and creativity, particularly his vision and ability to play between the lines.
Aurelien Tchouameni, Real Madrid player
Mourinho needs to address his midfield problem soon. (Photo by Francisco Macia/Getty Images)
Yet the physical demands of the position have made the double pivot a difficult role for him, while he has also struggled to establish himself as a regular starter.
All this leaves Thiago Pitarch as the unexplored option.
The young midfielder has not yet featured for Mourinho because of injury, meaning the manager has been unable to assess him in competitive football.
His return could therefore give Real Madrid another profile to consider when the team resumes action after the international break.
Indeed, Pitarch is not guaranteed to solve the midfield problem, but his situation is different from the other candidates, as Mourinho simply has not had the opportunity to test him yet.