SW Essen Overview

Luis de la Fuente has sparked a tactical debate by suggesting Marc Cucurella reaches heights with the Spanish national team that he simply cannot find at Real Madrid. The defender was instrumental in La Roja’s dominant 4-1 win over Croatia, looking a far cry from the struggling figure seen at the Bernabeu recently.

Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Junior has candidly addressed his recent drop in form, admitting that he is currently battling a lack of confidence on both the domestic and international stages. The Brazilian forward, usually so clinical and flamboyant, has found goals hard to come by lately as he continues to process the emotional fallout of a disappointing World Cup this summer.

Toni Kroos has laughed off being left off Jurgen Klopp's mailing list as the new Germany boss contacted several former internationals for support. The Real Madrid legend joked that he will message the manager on WhatsApp to find out exactly why his inbox remained empty.

Michael Olise is reportedly ready to commit his long-term future to Bayern Munich, but the French superstar has arrived at the negotiating table with one major condition. The winger is demanding the inclusion of a massive release clause to ensure he maintains control over his career path following heavy interest from Real Madrid.