Real Madrid: What to expect from Sergio Reguilon

Real Madrid will have two of the best young left backs in the world next season, but what exactly can Los Blancos expect from Sergio Reguilon?

Last season, Real Madrid loaned Sergio Reguilon to one of La Liga’s top clubs in Sevilla, and they could not have been more pleased with the 23-year-old left back’s development under former manager Julen Lopetegui.

Although Sevilla had a talented veteran left back across from club legend Jesus Navas, Reguilon had no issues becoming the Andalusian club’s regular starter over Sergio Escudero.

Reguilon, according to WhoScored.com, scored one goal and tied Navas for second on the team behind primary central creator Ever Banega with four assists. The fullbacks played important roles in the attack for Lopetegui in 2019-2020, and there’s no doubt that Reguilon was the best attacking fullback in La Liga as a crisp-passing ball-progressor.

In all honesty, Reguilon was probably the best fullback in the entire league, with Real Madrid’s duo of Ferland Mendy and Dani Carvajal providing the strongest challenge alongside Emerson and Pervis Estupinan.

But what separated Reguilon from the others was his attacking prowess. As a defender, Reguilon was solid enough with a team-high 2.1 tackles per game and 1.1 interceptions per game.

On the offensive end, though, Reguilon was a game-changer for Sevilla. The young left back averaged 1.6 key passes per game, 1.7 dribbles completed per game, and 1.6 fouls drawn per game. Those numbers were eerily similar to Banega’s, and Banega is an experienced attacking midfielder who has been a star at Sevilla for years.

Real Madrid should have high expectations for Reguilon, who will make it even more difficult for Marcelo to obtain starts in the lineup next season. And that’s assuming Marcelo doesn’t head to Juventus to reunite with Cristiano Ronaldo.

Reguilon and Mendy can complement each other perfectly, with Mendy being the superior defender and Reguilon the better attacking left back. That said, Reguilon is plenty good at defending, and Mendy has become an asset in the attacking end.

If you thought Marcelo vs. Mendy was a fierce competition last season, then watching the left back position with Reguilon in the mix will be a treat.

But based on last season’s success at Sevilla, the 23-year-old Spain international looks like the favorite to receive the most minutes at the position in 2020-2021. That’s how good Reguilon is. He’s almost the perfect left back with his ability to greatly aid the attack without sacrificing defensively. In a lot of ways, he’s the kind of player who fits Zinedine Zidane perfectly. Except, well, Zidane already has a great fit in the brilliant Mendy.

Tempering expectations is usually helpful when discussing young players at Real Madrid, given how pressurized the club is. But there should be plenty of optimism surrounding Reguilon after an all-action season at Sevilla in which he became a crucial part of their success.