Real Madrid: Was Zinedine Zidane right about selling Reguilon for Mendy?

Real Madrid has the opportunity of activating Reguilon’s buy-back clause by the summer of 2022. But should Los Blancos consider bringing the Spaniard back?

Real Madrid decided to part ways with Sergio Reguilon last summer as Zinedine Zidane preferred having Ferland Mendy as his first-choice. However, Los Blancos are aware of the potential that is vested in Reguilon which is why the former Sevilla man was sold to Tottenham Hotspur with a buy-back clause inserted in his contract.

Although Reguilon has committed to Tottenham Hotspur for five years, the left-back could be called back to the Spanish capital in 2021 or 2022 if Real Madrid decides to activate his 45 million euro buy-back clause.

However, it is highly unlikely that Sergio Reguilon would want to return to his boyhood club and compete for a spot in the starting eleven against Ferland Mendy when he continues being an indispensable member under Jose Mourinho at Tottenham.

So bringing back Reguilon would only lead to a situation such as Sergio Reguilon vs Ferland Mendy. Neither of the two would want to compete against each other, so does it make sense to bring back Reguilon? Let’s compare how both these players have performed this season.

We’ll be looking at their performances in their respective domestic leagues.  Ferland Mendy has played 14 games so far in La Liga that has amounted to 1140 minutes and has zero goals and assists. Meanwhile, Sergio Reguilon has played 11 games that have amounted to 880 minutes and has two assists. Reguilon has played lesser minutes which would give him a slight advantage when we look into XG, XA, and such other stats due to his smaller sample size.

Let’s face look at their passing stats. Ferland Mendy has attempted more passes (778) and has completed more passes(778) with a higher completion rate (89.2%) than that of Sergio Reguilon’s (75.3%). In fact, the Frenchman has played 752 more progressive passes (passes towards the goal) than the Spanish left-back has played this season.

Let’s look at their crossing stats now, although Reguilon has two assists from crosses, his statistics are not as good as Mendy who has zero assists this season. Mendy has attempted more long-balls and even has a better completion rate (81 long-balls, 69.1% completion rate). On the flipside, Reguilon has attempted 70 long-balls but has a poor completion rate of 38.6%.

In terms of chances created and key passes, Ferland Mendy is head and shoulders above Sergio Reguilon. The former Olympique Lyon left-back has created 12 chances along with 12 key passes, meanwhile, Sergio Reguilon has nine chances created and seven key passes.