Real Madrid: Zinedine Zidane should be careful in the summer window

The midfield conundrum

If there is one area which deserves the least blame for this washout season, it is the midfield. While they have slipped in consistency, have not contributed nearly enough goals, and have been run-over at times, they are the only ones, with the exception of Benzema and Ramos, who have saved face for Real Madrid this season.

There are enough veterans (Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, Isco, Casemiro) and enough back-ups (Dani Ceballos, Marcos Llorente, Fede Valverde, Marco Asensio, Brahim Diaz) in midfield.

Mateo Kovacic and James are out on loan, and there is a slim possibility that they may come back. The squad seems packed and sorted in midfield.

There is speculation that Modric may leave this season, which may be a sensible move in all fairness. He is turning 34 next year, and his best years are behind him. We have seen time and again that Real Madrid is not a place where legends can retire gracefully, so it’s best to go out on your own terms.

If Modric leaves this season, the club still has enough young talent to take over, especially if Kovacic is coming back. Even without him, I doubt the club needs a big-ticket signing in midfield like Paul Pogba, Adrien Rabiot, or Eriksen.

Why should they make Pogba the highest paid player at the club, when he will come at a position which is most stacked in the squad currently? And when it will take minutes away from Ceballos, and even Isco, it’s not worth it.

It will be criminal to keep them on the bench, and the money can be used elsewhere more optimally. We know that Zidane admires Pogba and vice-versa, but he should really keep the French connection aside and look at the right Galactico to bring to Madrid at this point. And Pogba is not that.