Real Madrid must pick Alvaro Odriozola at RB over Lucas Vazquez

Real Madrid have a decision to make with Alvaro Odriozola this summer, and they need to make the wise one.

After just one bad game, Real Madrid sent Alvaro Odriozola packing for the rest of the season. He could have done better for Junior Lago’s goal in the 1-0 road loss to Mallorca in October, and he even got himself red-carded to seal Real’s fate as the losers. But it was harsh for Zinedine Zidane to then drop the young right back from the rotation entirely. Then, Madrid loaned out Odriozola to Bayern Munich, where he barely got playing time behind Benjamin Pavard.

Now, Odriozola is in an interesting spot this summer. He could return to Los Blancos to finally give Dani Carvajal backup, as Achraf Hakimi was sold for 40 million euros to Inter Milan. Or he could go out on loan to a club that would actually be able to play him every game, obtaining valuable minutes to grow his confidence.

According to a report from MARCA’s J.I. Garcia-Ochoa, Real Madrid will decide between Odriozola and Lucas Vazquez for the title of Carvajal’s backup at right back in 2020-2021.

Vazquez is another player whose future is uncertain. He is a favorite of Zidane’s and a hard-working, versatile player who scored a few goals for the team. Vazquez featured at right back to close the season and is willing to play there in order to stay in Madrid.

Alvaro Odriozola has a lot of potential

But if it comes down to it, Real Madrid must choose Odriozola. I know Odri has his flaws, but the ultra-speedy youngster has the potential to be a very good right back in La Liga. Remember Theo Hernandez? Real never had a place for him, but the reminder is that Theo is thriving at Milan after Los Blancos sold him short.

They wouldn’t want to make the same mistake with Odriozola. And they know it, which is why the discussion isn’t about selling Odriozola or Vazquez. The discussion is about loaning Odri or keeping him, and a secondary discussion would be on selling Vazquez.

While Vazquez isn’t a terrible right back option, he should really be an emergency option. It is not ideal for him to go into the season as the direct backup to Carvajal. He pushes too high up the pitch for someone who isn’t especially fast – certainly not as fast as Odriozola. And if Bryan Gil of Leganes could cause him trouble, imagine what could happen to Vazquez if Dani Carvajal is suspended for a bigger game.

Odriozola, on the other hand, had more good appearances than bad in 2019-2020. Scapegoating him for the loss to Mallorca is ridiculous when Zinedine Zidane’s other lineup decisions and the performances of many of the other players were not up to par either.

Alvaro Odriozola played pretty well for Real Madrid

Recall that Odriozola had a very good game against Granada, a more difficult opponent, including an assist. Odriozola even had an assist against Chelsea in the Champions League, crossing for superstar striker Robert Lewandowski. In total, he had two assists in around 600 minutes of action, which is quite good.

It’s easy to forget, but the 24-year-old had a nice run of games for Real Madrid before Mallorca. Per WhoScored.com, Odriozola supported the attack well with 1.5 dribbles per game and 1.3 key passes per game. He’s more of an attacking fullback, but Real were prepared to accommodate a wing back in Hakimi. There’s nothing wrong with having Odri as a different, attacking option behind Carvajal, much like Marcelo is a more attacking backup to Ferland Mendy on the left.

Odriozola is not a great right back yet, but he has the raw tools to become one. And in the present, he is the best of what Real has. Keeping him around for another year would make more sense than loaning him, even if he could use the playing time. His future is tied to the offers Los Blancos get for Vazquez, but, as of right now, I lean towards bringing him back to the first team.