Real Madrid striker Luka Jovic might be headed out on loan for the 2020-2021 season.
Yesterday, it was reported that Zinedine Zidane could keep Borja Mayoral on the Real Madrid squad after being impressed with the young striker who spent the 2019-2020 season contributing 10 goals and assists to Levante. That news puzzled Madridistas, who saw Mayoral as clearly behind Karim Benzema and Luka Jovic in the pecking order, wondering how Zidane would be able to juggle playing time for all of them.
Well, what if Jovic leaves on loan?
The rumors of Jovic being loaned out are nothing new, as Milan or a team in the Premier League could use the 22-year-old striker for one year. As Jovic showed in 2018-2019 before Real Madrid signed him for 60 million euros, the Serbian international can be a difference-maker for a team in the Europa League or even Champions League.
According to a report from Tomas Gonzalez-Martin of ABC Deportes, Luka Jovic is contemplating requesting a loan deal for the 2020-2021 season. He believes he won’t get regular playing time behind Benzema, just like last season.
It makes sense for Real Madrid striker Luka Jovic to prioritize playing time
That’s an understandable thought process from Jovic, and it’s better for him to think about his playing time and development than to stubbornly sit on the bench. Mariano Diaz fell into the same trap, and Brahim Diaz essentially lost a year of his development by resisting a loan deal for 2019-2020. Now, Brahim is at Milan and is on the road to thriving.
The same could happen for Jovic. He’s been unlucky with injuries, but when he’s on the pitch, he gets results. Jovic scored twice in La Liga in limited minutes last season and had one of the assists of the season, setting up Casemiro’s winner at home against Sevilla with a backheel.
If Zidane truly likes Mayoral and if Real Madrid cannot find a way to sell Mariano this summer, then a loan for Jovic may be the best outcome for everyone. Playing time is paramount for Jovic, and a great year on loan would do more than anything else to prove to Los Blancos that they should stick with him and not even think about Erling Haaland.