Just how good is Real Madrid’s returning center-back Jesus Vallejo?
Real Madrid’s young centre-back Jesus Vallejo will return back to Madrid after his loan to Bundesliga side Frankfurt this past season. How good is the young Spanish defender?
Vallejo, 20, a product of Real Zaragoza’s youth academy, was purchased by Real Madrid only to be loaned back to Zaragoza, then to Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt this past season. In just one season there, he lit up the Bundesliga with his fantastic passing ability, as well as his technical skills. In his short tenure in Germany, Jesus established himself as one of the premier center backs in the league.
At just 20 years old, he led the back line for the middle of the table side Frankfurt. Eintracht was also one of the better defensive teams overall this past Bundesliga season, in large part due to the young Spanish star. Vallejo’s 1.3 tackles a game this season puts him around the same with guys like Bayern’s Javi Martinez, Dortmund’s Mathias Ginter, Darmstadt’s Aytac Sulu and Omer Toprak from Leverkusen. All of the latter names are notably known as some of better defenders in the German league if not Europe.
According to WhoScored, Jesus Vallejo averaged 2.8 interceptions per match this past season, which would put him ahead of guys like John Brooks, Johnathan Tah, Benedikt Howedes and just behind Marc Bartra and some others. Now keep in mind, Vallejo is also only 20 and had the least quality of players around him compared to all those guys, so he is less inclined to take risks.
Real Madrid's centre-back youngster Jesus Vallejo turns on the afterburners vs ex-Barca Halilovic. pic.twitter.com/A55xrPXZz7
— M•A•J (@UltraSuristic_) June 12, 2017
We haven’t even talked about Vallejo’s best aspect yet, which is passing. The young star might already be one of the best passing center backs in Europe.
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Vallejo had an 85% pass percentage, which put him just behind center backs like Mats Hummels, Niklas Sule, and Andreas Christensen. By putting himself in conversation with Germany’s best center-backs, Vallejo may be starting to make his claim as one of the better young defenders in the world.
Vallejo very well might not find himself as a first choice centre-back just yet with Ramos and Varane still ahead of him, but he will definitely see plenty of playing time for Los Blancos.
He will be no slouch back there, and while Pepe will be missed in other aspects of the game, Vallejo is ready for the spotlight.
(Update: earlier language in this post suggested Vallejo was a product of Real Madrid Castilla, rather than Zaragoza’s youth team. This has been corrected)