Celta Vigo captain talks Bellingham, Vinicius, Mbappe, Ancelotti, Alonso ahead of Real Madrid tie | OneFootball

In a recent interview with AS, Celta Vigo captain Iago Aspas shared his thoughts on various subjects, including the pressure Real Madrid applies on referees and the quality of some of the club’s top players.

With Celta preparing for their visit to the Santiago Bernabeu, Aspas weighed in on topics that have dominated headlines in recent weeks.

When asked about the reports suggesting Real Madrid’s influence over referees, Aspas remained somewhat evasive.

“I don’t know. I’ve never actually seen one of those RMTV videos. You do hear some things, but I don’t watch them much,” said Aspas, emphasising that he doesn’t pay too much attention to the issue.

Bellingham’s suspension lifted

Jude Bellingham will be available to play against Celta Vigo. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

The conversation shifted to Jude Bellingham, whose suspension was recently lifted. Aspas, like many others, expressed his concern about facing the in-form midfielder.

“I hope it serves as a precedent for other teams, so they can remove other players. It’s bad news for us that he’s playing against us,” Aspas admitted.

Vinicius, Mbappe, and the elite Level of modern football

Aspas was asked whether he considered Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr. and Kylian Mbappe to be below his level. His response was respectful but clear:

“Mbappe has scored over 20 goals, Vinicius finished second in the Ballon d’Or and deserved to win it like Rodri.

“There are times during the season when you experience peak form, but these are players who are beyond question.”

Aspas acknowledged their exceptional abilities, recognising their standing among the very best.

Thoughts on Ancelotti’s future

Carlo Ancelotti’s future is on limbo. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)

Lastly, Aspas shared his opinion on the future of Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti, who has been under increasing pressure.

“Maybe Xabi Alonso, who was at Real Madrid and is doing very well at Bayer Leverkusen, could fit in at Madrid,” Aspas suggested.

However, he also praised Ancelotti’s record, stating, “Ancelotti is the coach with the most titles in history and has managed to bring in some great stars, so he must have something good about him,” he noted.