Real Madrid: Eder Militao will show his world-class future again

Real Madrid will start Brazilian center back Eder Militao against Alaves on Saturday, and this is another opportunity for the young defender to show why he has a world-class future at the Santiago Bernabeu.

All of Real Madrid’s summer signing have looked impressive through the first few months of the 2019-2020 campaign, even if Eden Hazard has been, unsurprisingly, the one to make the most profound impact in a White kit thus far.

In Ferland Mendy, Real have found a left back who can become the best in the world one day. The same can be said about Rodrygo at any position. Luka Jovic has flashed his fox-in-the-box mentality at times. And Eder Militao looks like an absolute gem at the center back position.

Militao will get another opportunity to start on Saturday against Alaves, as Raphael Varane suffered an injury during Real’s heart-shattering 2-2 draw with PSG on Tuesday in the Champions League. Varane could not train on Thursday, but hopefully he will be back by Matchday 16 against Espanyol.

Alaves will have trouble dealing with Militao, who has been an absolute menace on the pitch. He’s made three appearances this season, playing a pivotal role in Real’s 2-0 clean sheet over Osasuna in September.

Militao was also one of Real’s lone bright spots in their panic-stirring 1-0 loss to RCD Mallorca on Oct. 19 after the international break. The young Brazilian was at no fault for the goal, whereas he made three tackles, four interceptions, and two blocked shots, according to WhoScored.com.

After dominating Liga NOS and even the Champions League for FC Porto last season, Militao has looked right at home in a Real Madrid jersey in 2019-2020. Militao looks like the next great center back at the Santiago Bernabeu, as there has been no noticeable drop-off between Varane and Militao, which is the highest of compliments. Varane, after all, is one of the best players in the world at his position and the captain of the France national team.

Wise beyond his years, Militao reads the game so well, rarely puts a foot wrong, goes into tackles cleanly, and simply bodies defenders. He provides so much cover in the back four, and Dani Carvajal will surely love playing with Militao, who covered up an awful lot of Alvaro Odriozola’s errors in positioning.

In some ways, Militao is similar to Varane, even winning seven aerial duels against Mallorca. He has all the ability in the world, and, at 21, he is clearly on the trajectory to becoming one of the absolute best defensive players in the world.

Expect Militao to have an incredible performance against Alaves, as Matchday 15 could yield the former Porto star his finest match of the 2019-2020 campaign thus far. Varane’s injury has opened an opportunity for Militao to make another impact, and he will surely seize it forcefully with both hands.