Since he played so infrequently in 2019-2020, it’s easy to forget that Real Madrid striker Luka Jovic has a chance to be one of the best attackers in the world.
Real Madrid signed Luka Jovic for about 60 million euros in the summer of 2019, making him the second-most expensive signing after Eden Hazard in the first summer of Zinedine Zidane‘s “Revolution”. On top of that, it seems like the signing was green-lit by Zidane himself, meaning the France legend seems something special in the 22-year-old.
And why wouldn’t he? Jovic was a revelation in 2018-2019 on loan at Eintracht Frankfurt, blossoming into one of the best young strikers in European football. He was a superstar in the Bundesliga, scoring 17 goals with five assists as part of one of the most devastating attacking quartets in the continent, alongside Sebastian Haller, Ante Rebic, and Filip Kostic.
Jovic showed an ability to position himself perfectly in the box, great link-up play, and jaw-dropping athleticism. He was a threat to score a hat-trick in any given game, establishing himself as one of the most clinical strikers in the league, just behind former FC Barcelona man Paco Alcacer and Bayern Munich legend Robert Lewandowski.
In European competition, Jovic was even better. In 954 Europa League minutes, Jovic scored 10 goals, averaging nearly one goal per 90 minutes. Adding in his one assist, Jovic had an average of a goal contribution per 90 as one of the most impressive players in the tournament, with Frankfurt making a deep run in the competition.
Although Jovic played in only 392 minutes in La Liga last season due to Karim Benzema‘s presence as a legendary center forward who had a brilliant first half of the season, the Serbia international showed those same traits in the limited action. He scored two goals with an assist, and he also set up a goal with a backheel, in the same way his assist was a backheeled one.
Jovic has all the tools to be one of the best strikers in Europe, and it’s important not to give up on a 60 million euro signing after he was eased into the pressurized club as a young man. Playing striker at any club is tough, but that’s especially true when Madridistas have such high expectations from forwards. Look no further than the criticism levied at Benzema for his slump in the second half of the season.
Zinedine Zidane is incredible at working with young players. The likes of Vinicius Junior and Fede Valverde blossomed in 2019-2020 under his leadership, and he’s done a great job of supporting others, such as Rodrygo Goes, who is also being eased into things. It would have been tempting for Real Madrid to throw Rodrygo directly into the fire after his brilliant start to his career, including a perfect hat-trick in the Champions League, but Zidane knows better.
Likewise, Zidane knows better than to write off a young striker or place him under the weight of unfair expectations. Zidane has the man-management skills and experience as a manager and player to lift up young strikers. Luka Jovic couldn’t be in a better spot.