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Real Madrid News Real Madrid executive reacts to Champions League draw: ‘Objective is to finish among the top eight’ Former Real Madrid player Emilio Butragueno, now the club’s Director of Institutional Relations, discussed the team’s mood on Movistar following the 2026/27 Champions League league-phase draw. The draw has handed Jose Mourinho’s side several difficult fixtures, including a trip to Arsenal in London and a meeting with Inter Milan at the Bernabeu. Apart from that, Los Blancos will also face PSV Eindhove, AS Roma, RB Leipzig, Shakhtar Donetsk, LASK, and AEK Athens in the league phase of Europe’s premier club competition. Butragueno reacts Butragueno, who was present at the draw in Monaco, representing Real Madrid, discussed the club’s opponents for the first phase of the Champions League. “This competition is always very demanding. Every match is difficult and closely contested. You have to have the right mentality and you have to play,” Butragueno said. “We’re experiencing this competition with tremendous excitement and, as always, we’ll do everything possible to qualify,” he added. "Vivimos esta #UCL con muchísima ilusión y queremos estar en ese Top8". — Movistar Plus Deportes (@MPlusDeportes) August 27, 2026 Emilio Butragueño, tras el sorteo de @ChampionsLeague. #UCL #LaCasaDelFútbol pic.twitter.com/eUy1KkrIGR Butragueno also confirmed that, after finishing outside the top eight in each of the last two editions, Real Madrid’s objective this season is to reach the knockout stage directly. “The objective is to finish among the top eight to avoid the first knockout round and go directly through to the round of 16. With all the excitement, as always,” he concluded. Real Madrid aim to reclaim Champions League crown Real Madrid face a major challenge in this year’s competition after two consecutive seasons in which they were eliminated at the quarter-final stages by Arsenal and Bayern Munich. With Mourinho returning and several new signings arriving, Real Madrid hope to overcome the setbacks of recent European campaigns and make a serious run at the title. The club’s pursuit of a 16th Champions League trophy is now underway. The competition’s new format means the Merengues must maintain consistency from the opening match. There is no traditional group stage in which teams can afford to ease into the campaign: every result contributes to a single league table, with the top eight advancing directly to the round of 16. For Real Madrid, finishing in those eight places is therefore the first major European objective, as it would also spare the squad the additional physical burden of playing two playoff matches. The trip to Arsenal will be one of the biggest tests of the opening phase, while the clash with Inter at the Santiago Bernabeu will provide another measure of Real Madrid’s ability to compete against a top-level European contender. In the other matches, Real Madrid will generally start as favourites, but they cannot afford unnecessary slip-ups that could damage their position in the table. Real Madrid News Cadiz pushing to sign 22-year-old Real Madrid academy midfielder According to AS, Cadiz are pushing to sign Real Madrid youngster Manuel Angel even as talks over a move to UD Almeria face some roadblocks. The Spanish second division side need to strengthen their midfield. Following the confirmed departure of Rominigue Kouame and the possible exit of Joaquin Gonzalez, they have vacancies to fill and wants to complete the position as soon as possible. One of the names to emerge in recent hours is Manuel Angel. According to the report, Cadiz are trying to convince both the player and Real Madrid to approve a move to the Andalusian club. Almería still waiting Almeria had previously been close to signing the midfielder, but Cadiz’s late intervention has thrown the situation wide open. The player is also carefully considering his next step. Real Madrid now appear more inclined to send the 22-year-old to Cadiz, but the competition remains open. Everything is still undecided, and the coming hours could prove decisive. One thing appears certain: whichever club signs Manuel Angel, Real Madrid will transfer 50% of the midfielder’s rights, following the formula the club regularly use with their academy players. That structure allows the Merengues to retain some control over the player’s future while giving him the opportunity to continue his development elsewhere. A promising player Captaining Castilla last season, Manuel Angel played 29 matches and scored one goal in the RFEF Primera Federacion for the reserve team. He was given his opportunity with the Real Madrid first team under Alvaro Arbeloa. He made seven appearances during the 2025-26 campaign, including four in La Liga and two in the Champions League. Now, with both Cadiz and Almeria interested, the next few hours could determine where the Real Madrid academy product continues his career. Real Madrid have already raised more than €200 million revenue from deals involving academy players either through direct sales or thanks to the future sell-on clauses included in deals. With Manuel Angel now expected to leave, the Spanish capital club will see another small rise in the revenue generated from La Fabrica.