Former Arsenal Star Claims Real Madrid Would Finish Eighth in Premier League – “Will Struggle Against Leeds”

Former Arsenal and England winger Theo Walcott has ignited debate by insisting that European powerhouse Real Madrid would finish only eighth in the Premier League, a forecast that flies in the face of the Spanish club’s glittering continental record.

Speaking to Amazon Prime UK, Walcott argued that the rigours of English football—its intensity, physicality and even the weather—would expose Carlo Ancelotti’s squad. “Eighth,” Walcott replied when asked where Madrid would place over a 38-game domestic campaign. “I feel they may struggle at Crystal Palace and Leeds away. The weather plays its part as well.”

The prediction jars with Madrid’s unprecedented success: the club owns 15 European Cup/Champions League trophies, a haul equal to the combined total of every English side that has ever lifted the trophy. Yet Walcott believes the week-to-week demands of Premier League travel, coupled with hostile atmospheres at venues such as Selhurst Park and Elland Road, would erode Madrid’s points tally and leave them outside both Champions League and Europa League positions.

Walcott’s assessment drew immediate push-back from fellow pundits Wayne Rooney and Alan Shearer, both of whom forecast a top-four finish for the Spanish giants. Rooney, however, conceded the underlying premise, acknowledging that away fixtures in England present a level of difficulty rarely encountered in La Liga.

The remarks are unlikely to endear Walcott to Madrid supporters, who view their club’s European pedigree as proof of an ability to master any environment. Nonetheless, the former Gunner’s stance underlines a growing belief within English football circles that the Premier League’s financial muscle and relentless schedule create a unique challenge even for the continent’s most decorated teams.

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