The value of depth: just how loaded is Real Madrid’s midfield?
Real Madrid’s midfield is widely considered the best in the world. The crazy thing is: It’s only getting better. So, just how loaded is the spine of Real Madrid? Nick Gonzalez takes a look at Real Madrid’s super-stacked midfield.
Just at face value, two names on Real Madrid’s midfield roster immediately jump out at you: Toni Kroos and Luka Modric. These two have been unanimously considered World Class. They are heralded as one of, if not the best midfield pairing in the world.
Name a more iconic duo. #HalaMadrid #Campeones #LaLiga pic.twitter.com/J8WyDG85qV
— The Real Champs (@TheRealChampsFS) May 21, 2017
The midfield in Madrid doesn’t just stop there. In the defensive spot, Madrid start the Brazilian Casemiro who is probably one of the five best defensive midfielders in the world. On top of that, Marcos Llorente is coming back in from loan who very well could have been the best CDM in La Liga last season. This is one position Real Madrid lacked a true backup for last year.
Taken together as a whole, those are four midfielders that make Real absolutely LOADED. But it doesn’t stop there.
Now let’s take a look at the backups. We briefly touched on Marcos Llorente, who like I said, was arguably the best CDM in La Liga last season for Alaves at just 21 years old. The Spain international will be a force for years to come. Now on the sides, where Kroos and Modric play, the depth is just as good. Isco and Mateo are the two backups that first come to mind. Isco especially, who is just flat out World Class with the ball at his feet whether he is on the wing or in the heart of the midfield.
Kovacic is another one who is super young and has the potential to be one of the best in Europe. While being Modric’s understudy in the Croatian side and Real, Mateo is learning from one of the best ever.
It doesn’t stop there, Real Madrid’s recent addition of Dani Ceballos from Real Betis makes this team’s midfield so much deeper. Ceballos can play through the middle and on both sides of the pitch. He really is the complete package and will be very versatile, almost like a midfield version of Lucas Vazquez. Ceballos is just 20 years old as well and has shown he will be a special talent in the midfield for years to come.
Based on data and eye tests, Real probably has SEVEN of the top 25 midfielders from La Liga this past season. That’s outrageous. They also have four potential world class midfielders in Isco, Casemiro, Modric, and Kroos. With Kovacic, Marco and Ceballos all in the ranks to show what they can do. As a former midfielder, I am sure Zidane is going to have LOTS of fun with Real Madrid’s midfield.