Real Madrid: 3 players who have improved their value after four games

Real Madrid remain undefeated after four La Liga Matchdays, and these three players have improved their stock the most.

Although Real Madrid have been tested in each of their four games after five La Liga Matchdays before the October international break, they are top of the table and undefeated after only dropping points at the Anoeta Stadium in the opener.

Here are five players on Los Blancos who have boosted their stock/transfer value after almost a month of action.

Real Madrid CM Fede Valverde

If Luka Modric has been Real Madrid’s best midfielder to start the 2020-2021 season, picking up where he left off last summer en route to the 34th league title, then Fede Valverde has been a very close second.

The Man of the Match against Real Betis at the Benito Villamarin, Valverde describes his own job as running until he can’t run anymore.

But he does so much more than run. Valverde scored the only non-own goal from open play against Betis, and, per WhoScored.com, he’s completed about 88 percent of his passes so far this season.

Valverde is the definition of an all-around midfielder. It’s no wonder why Bayern Munich thought about trying to sign him. But rest assured, no matter who comes calling, whether PSG or Bayern, Valverde isn’t going anywhere.

Real Madrid GK Thibaut Courtois

It’s hard to rank any goalkeeper above the legendary Manuel Neuer or Atletico Madrid stalwart Jan Oblak, and Alisson is also in the mix. But statistically, Courtois had a higher save percentage and clean sheet percentage than Oblak in 2019-2020 as the rock behind the best defense in Europe’s top five leagues.

The Real Madrid star is off to another incredible start in 2020-2021. A Man of the Match candidate in nearly every game, Courtois has picked up a clean sheet in three out of four appearances for Los Blancos, often making top-drawer saves to rescue his team. His stops against Real Valladolid and Levante in tough victories last week were definitely worthy of the highest praise.

Courtois continues to make a “case” for being the best goalkeeper in the world again. And without him, Real Madrid would not be top of the table. You can bank on that.

Real Madrid LW Vinicius Junior

Although Real Madrid’s attack has struggled to start the season, with Karim Benzema missing more chances than his usual, Vinicius Junior has distinguished himself as the top forward on the team. Together, he and Marco Asensio are giving Los Blancos reasons to be optimistic once the rest of the team clicks.

Vinicius scored a scrappy goal in the 65th minute as a substitute against Real Valladolid, once again tangibly changing the game for the Royal Whites as a sub. And then he scored an even better goal, curling the ball into the far corner to give Real Madrid a critical early goal against a very game Levante at the Estadio de la Ceramica.

Although Vinicius isn’t running the table in dribbles completed or fouls drawn like last season, the 20-year-old Brazilian has been even more direct and goal-hungry in 2020-2021, which is huge for the team. If the goals keep coming, Real Madrid will be in very good hands. A front three of Vinicius, Benzema, and Asensio with Eden Hazard as a “bonus” is more than capable of bringing home another La Liga title.