The chef's surprise. Tuesday, Carlo Ancelotti gave an update on the state of the troops before the reception of Naples at the Santiago-Bernabéu stadium. The Mister announced that several players would be missing, such as Thibaut Courtois, Kepa Arizabalaga, Eder Militão, Eduardo Camavinga, Luka Modric, Aurélien Tchouameni and Vinicius Jr. To compensate for these numerous packages, more or less long, the Italian decided to draw from the reserve team and trust the Madrid youth. What he has often been criticized for in recent weeks. Indeed, the club's talent management has been singled out.
First call-up with the pros for Théo Zidane
Some observers believe that Ancelotti is not using Casa Blanca's youngsters enough. Yesterday, the former PSG coach sent a very clear message at a press conference. “You talked a lot about the young people who don’t play with us. We must now take advantage of their qualities. They brought what little Nico and Gonzalo played. We have Mario and Théo (Zidane) in the team and we have to tell the truth I have confidence in them. Raúl's work is fantastic, the ready players are arriving. I have to give priority to those who have played less like Brahim, Lucas or Fran, but I am calm. A few minutes later, the Real Madrid coach revealed the group of 21 players selected to face the Partenopei.
Among the names written, one of them caught the attention. Theo's. Zinedine Zidane's third son was called up for the first time with the professional group. Like his two brothers, Enzo (28 years old), who started in the Copa del Rey against Cultural Leonesa, and Luca (25 years old), who made his first match against Villarreal in La Liga, he could make his professional debut under the tunic meringue. A tunic that his father also wore. Obviously, this caused a reaction in Spain, where the trajectory of Zidane's sons is closely followed. “And finally…Théo Zidane”, headlined Marca.
The Spanish press is already waiting for it
The Iberian media subsequently added: “the Zidane saga has no end: Théo enters the group to face Naples. Théo Zidane could be the third son of the legendary former French player and manager to debut in a Real Madrid first-team shirt following the debuts of Enzo and Luca. Midfielder, goalkeeper… and another midfielder in the endless Zidane saga. The third in the family is the tallest of all, measuring 1.96 m. During the season, he stood out with Raúl González's team. He played 13 of the reserve team's 14 matches (11 as a starter and 2 as a substitute for a total of 935 minutes) and he caught the attention of Carlo Ancelotti, who did not hesitate to call him up to compensate for injuries. »
Having passed through all the youth categories of Real Madrid, a club he joined thirteen years ago, the native of Marseille stands out for his size, his physical power and his ability to swallow the kilometers. Marca adds about him: “he is a player who can be positioned in different positions in midfield, even if he generally starts from a position further back to initiate offensive play and cut off opposing attempts. It stands out for its great ball capacity. Since he was little, he has attracted everyone's attention due to the resemblance to Zidane in his game. One of the keys to understanding Théo's football is the number of movements he is able to perform during a match.
Zizou's third son who could make his professional debut in Madrid
Excited, the Iberian press is waiting to see him in action. This is also the case in Catalonia. Pro-Barça media, Sport wrote about him: “Théo Zidane, the third son of Zinedine who can make his debut with Madrid (…) The Merengue footballer, who renewed his contract with his club for an additional year, until as of June 30, 2024, saw its importance grow within Castilla after the losses of Sergio Arribas and Carlos Dotor. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Théo wants to follow the path of his older brothers to defend the Real Madrid crest in all its splendor in the first team. This Wednesday evening, he should a priori start on the sidelines.
But depending on the scenario of the meeting, he could come into play. What is certain is that his summons is a small event in Madrid and in Spain. On the other side of the Pyrenees, we hope to see one of Zinedine Zidane's heirs shine at Real Madrid. All eyes are now on Théo and his brother Elyaz, recalls Marca. “The 21-year-old midfielder was called up to the first team for the first time. It seems that the Zidane saga has no end... and in the background also shines the youngest of the Zidane family, Elyaz, a 17-year-old defender who plays for Juvenil A of Real Madrid. The Zidane saga is therefore far from over.