Real Madrid: Regrading 2019 summer transfers in May

ST Luka Jovic

Real Madrid striker Luka Jovic has been mired in controversy recently, and he’s become a target for the press in Spain and in Serbia. But it’s important for Madridistas to feel for the 22-year-old, who is going through a rough time and is currently out for two months with a fractured foot. Jovic has made mistakes, yes, but these mistakes are forgivable.

Furthermore, Jovic seems like he often runs into bad luck, including with the Serbian national team. The former Eintracht Frankfurt star simply wants to work and be the best, repaying the faith Zinedine Zidane showed him when he asked Florentino Perez to sign the Bundesliga’s most valuable young striker at the time.

Jovic averaged 0.68 goals and assists per 90 minutes (excluding penalties) in La Liga last season, per FBRef.com. You know who was first? Starting striker Karim Benzema with 0.69. That means both men had roughly the same efficiency in goal contributions, yet Jovic was at the disadvantage since many of his minutes were “junk” minutes. It’s hard to score or build a rapport with teammates in the final minutes of a match, yet both of Jovic’s goals came in stoppage time.

The jury is still out on the player due to his lack of playing time, but read past the headlines and look at the traits. Jovic is a player to root for.

Grade: B-