Real Madrid splashed €50 million to buy center back Eder Militao over the summer from FC Porto, but the Brazilian international has struggled to get on the field with any regularity thus far. Although he should still be considered the back up to Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane, Militao needs more minutes.
Four appearances in three months. For an incredibly promising player like Eder Militao, this very well could derail the incredible progress he has made early on in his footballing career.
A strong ball handler and powerful in the air, the 21-year-old from Sertãozinho, Brazil has made his way to world class football in a matter of two years. But, Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane seems a little hesitant as to whether or not Militao truly has a place in the first team.
While Ramos and Varane are undoubtedly the two starters and the backbone of the defense, Militao continues to waste away on the bench. With Nacho Fernandez out for a few more weeks rehabbing from a pretty serious knee injury, this is the time for Zizou to give Eder Militao some game time.
Not only should the manager want to give the tall, clinical defender time because of what he did with Sao Paulo and FC Porto but because of what the future could hold for the club if Ramos or Varane were to leave.
And, comparing some of Eder’s numbers to Nacho, you really begin to notice how strange it is that the younger player has been on the bench so much.
As the third choice center back, Nacho had already played 779 minutes at this time a year ago and back in 2017/2018, the Spanish defender had played 901 minutes by early November. So how is it a player who fits perfectly in Zidane’s system remains nothing more than a training squad member?
Ramos and Varane are both swamped with minutes and could use a match off every now and then. Or, if Zidane is so worried about playing without the two veterans, bring Militao off the bench if the match is out of reach in order to give him some game time.
Right now, Real Madrid fans should begin to take notice on this situation as it is slowly becoming disturbing. One trend that has become abundantly clear already this season is how stubborn Zizou is with his starting XI.
The boss has relied heavily on Ramos, Karim Benzema, and Casemiro thus far and players like James Rodriguez, Luka Jovic, and Eder Militao are nothing more than bench warmers right now. While the team’s performances have been fantastic as of late, rotation is key for a club that has so many fixtures over the course of the campaign.
Eder Militao is not good enough to be a starter just yet, but he needs minutes desperately.