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Real Madrid News Espanyol star admits facing Mbappe feels surreal ahead of Real Madrid clash: ‘Used to play with him on PlayStation’ Alex Calatrava is preparing for one of the biggest matches of his career, with the Espanyol midfielder set to face Real Madrid. The 26-year-old made his La Liga debut just a few days ago and has now reflected on how far his career has come. In an interview with AS, Calatrava admitted that lining up against Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe on the same pitch feels almost surreal. ‘I used to play with Mbappe on PlayStation’ Calatrava was asked whether, six years ago, while playing for Parets in Spain’s fifth tier, he could ever have imagined facing Mbappe in a competitive match. “At most, I used to play with him on the PlayStation, and now I’m going to play against him,” Calatrava said. He then spoke about whether having an Atletico Madrid past made him more determined to win against Los Blancos. “No, the same, I’m really looking forward to it. It’s a great match,” he said as he laughed. The Espanyol player acknowledged Madrid’s quality but insisted he wants to treat the occasion normally. Àlex Calatrava s'uneix a la rebel·lia perica pic.twitter.com/2zrUK78JAm — RCD Espanyol de Barcelona (@RCDEspanyol) July 2, 2026 “I know the level and quality they have, but you have to treat it naturally. They are a rival, another team. In football, anything can happen,” he explained. Cucurella shirt would be his choice Calatrava was also asked whether there is a Real Madrid player whose shirt he would like after the match. After thinking about it, he picked Marc Cucurella. “The truth is, I haven’t really thought about it, but I’d like to see a player like that who’s come up through the ranks just like I did. “Look, I’d like to see someone like Cucurella, yes. I’ve never had any idols, even though I’ve always watched a lot of football. “The players I identify with the most, because they’re living out a dream that I’d like to achieve myself, are the players on the Spanish national team,” he elaborated. The choice reflects Calatrava’s admiration for players who have worked their way through less conventional pathways rather than simply emerging as teenage superstars. The Real Madrid summer signing came through the academy at Barcelona and then had to move to Getafe and Brighton & Hove Albion. After doing the hard yards at those clubs, he then moved to Chelsea before becoming one of the best left-backs in Spain. He has now moved to Real Madrid this summer to become a starter at the biggest club in the world. No fear despite Madrid’s quality Espanyol face a difficult task against Jose Mourinho’s new-look Real Madrid, but Calatrava is approaching the game with confidence rather than intimidation. He even joked about predicting a home victory, saying he did not want to “jinx” a possible 2-0 result. Calatrava’s words also offer an insight into how much players grow up admiring players such as Mbappe. Many of their opponents grew up watching the Frenchman from afar. Now they are sharing the same pitch. The 26-year-old will be hoping to make an impression when he faces Madrid this weekend, and it remains to be seen how he fares. Real Madrid News Former Real Madrid academy ace could bring significant windfall amid Premier League interest It has been a gala summer for Real Madrid in terms of youth player sales, both directly from the Castilla and in terms of indirect profits from external transfers. All in all, the club have pocketed over €200 million from player sales this summer, and a massive part of that has arrived from departures of academy stars. The most recent operation finalised was the departure of Jacobo Ortega who left for Strasbourg, and Sergio Arribas is also said to be nearing a big-money move. Now, Defensa Central highlights another young player who could enter the same situation. An exit from Celta Vigo As relayed by the Spanish outlet, former Real Madrid player and current Celta Vigo star Javi Rueda is nearing a departure from the club, and Los Blancos continue to hold a promising stake. The player is likely Premier League-bound as Nottingham Forest have reportedly taken a liking for his profile. They are willing to spend big bucks to recruit him, and that comes as great news for Real Madrid who retain 50% of his rights. In fact, Rueda is said to have numerous proposals on his table beyond the offer from England although all his options are from clubs abroad. Nottingham Forest, however, represent the player’s best option in terms of chances in the Europa League and their project. The expected sum As matters stand, there is no clear idea of the exact amount Celta Vigo are holding out for. Rueda’s release clause stands at close to €40 million, but the Galicians are expected to settle even for a slightly lesser fee if it satisfies them. Given that they owe half the sum to Real Madrid, they will only sell him if the offer comes close to the €40 million mark at least. As matters stand, Nottingham Forest have not tabled any official offer for the player yet but one is expected to arrive at the Celta Vigo offices in the coming days. Real Madrid, needless to say, will be alert to the situation and will hope to secure yet another windfall to add to their massive earnings of the summer.