3 Real Madrid players who showed they are not finished yet

CB Nacho Fernandez

Real Madrid’s third center back Nacho Fernandez is something of a utility man for the Merengues and has been at the club since he was a child. He is a fan favorite, a symbol to Madrid, and something of an inspiration and institution.

Nacho has his limitations, and I still stand by my statement that he cannot be the third center back next season. But I do not say that out of any sort of disrespect for Nacho. If anything, I maintain this position as a matter of fact. Antonio Rudiger will be joining Madrid this summer as a free agent.

His strong performance at left back – which is very clearly not his best position, going by his other performances there this season – against PSG in the second leg Remontada was a pleasant surprise. But his real crowning performance was in the second leg against Manchester City.

Starting against one of the world’s most lethal attacks due to David Alaba’s injury, Nacho played with the ferocity we saw in his excellent 2020/21 Champions League campaign. He was disciplined, fiery, and snapping into decisive tackles.

Like Carvajal, Nacho is a big, overlooked, reason why Real Madrid made it past City and into the Champions League Final. He showed that while he also has some limitations, he remains a valuable asset to the defense and can raise his game on the biggest occasions. That, truly, is the essence of Madridismo.