3 Real Madrid players who must step up with Luka Modric out

1. FEDERICO VALVERDE

Eduardo Camavinga is a great option, there’s no denying that. However, he is predominantly a midfielder who is more defense-centric and moreover, the man is just 19 years old and Carlo Ancelotti may well go with a more experienced option to start the game while giving Camavinga a few minutes in the second half to keep continuing his super-sub candidacy.

Real Madrid’s other talented young midfielder Valverde who found his way into the starting XI more often under Zinedine Zidane may finally be given his chance for the game against Cadiz. If you’d ask me, I would start the combination of Kroos, Casemiro, and Valverde in a heartbeat with players like Isco and Camavinga available on the bench if need be. And, that is the reason why I have placed Valverde at the top of this list. He should be Ancelotti’s first-choice according to me.

Valverde can pilot that midfield role very well. It is sad that he hasn’t featured too often as a starter this season but he is someone who is more than capable of starting big matches. He especially puts his best shifts in crucial matches, may it be a season-defining knockout game or a derby match with bragging rights at stake. Fede bleeds for the club and he proves that time and again with his big-game performances.

This season too, Valverde was putting in quality shifts when Kroos was sidelined at the start of the season but since the German’s return, his role in the squad has come down to a substitute. His last start was in the game against Espanyol which also was Real’s only loss in the league. In the Champions League, he has only two starts and two substitute appearances. I think he should have had more involvement in the season by now.

However, the gates could finally open for the Uruguayan. With Luka Modric out, at least for now, he’ll have a great opportunity at hand. He could make a statement in the upcoming games and convince the Italian coach for a bigger role at the club. With the second half of the season in knocking distance, we expect to see more rotation from the Italian manager and Fede Valverde is the best choice available for a shift in the midfield.

That said, I wish a speedy and thorough recovery to all Real Madrid players infected by the virus and the club’s head assistant coach, Davide Ancelotti. Such COVID outbreaks can be disastrous for football as a whole. I hope the spread is contained quickly and football resumes in its full glory in the New Year.