Real Madrid vs Juventus: Combined XI for the pre-season clash

Right Midfielder (winger) – Ángel Di María

One of the more surprising transfers of the summer has to be Di Maria’s move to Juventus, who joined the Italian club as a free agent. The creative midfielder/winger has played for numerous top clubs in the past, including Real Madrid, and his current chapter at Juventus appears to be as promising as ever.

Even so, some may say that the Argentine is no longer the player he once was, which I partially agree with, but it is not enough to oust him from this team. The player is at ease playing as a number 10 behind the striker and frequently as a winger, and he was heavily engaged in the final third at PSG last season.

His position becomes even more firm given that Real Madrid’s right-wing alternatives are essentially non-existent, as Marco Asensio has been dreadful for more than a season and has done nothing to improve in the pre-season, while Rodrygo Goes continues to struggle with consistency.

Central Midfielder – Luka Modric

Luka Modric is living proof that reaching your ambitions late is always better than never reaching them at all. The 36-year-old midfielder rose to notoriety and gained the plaudits he deserved during his days at Real Madrid, where he grew to become a club icon after being deemed a failed signing in his first season with Los Blancos.

Even with all the accolades, I believe he is underrated for owning and being fundamental to a midfield and the entire squad at an age when others would like to retire and enjoy a life of leisure. Even at this age, the Croatian is fighting with the world’s top names, young and old alike, and nothing has changed in this ranking.

It would be completely insulting to compare Modric to any of Juventus’ midfielders, and it is as simple as breathing to state that he is capable of making not only this combined XI, but any in the world right now.

Central Midfielder – Toni Kroos

Toni Kroos is arguably Real Madrid’s most shrewd and profitable investment to date. The German ace has grown at Los Blancos and has only known success. Kroos just does not get enough attention.

At Real, the midfielder is like clay; he fits perfectly into whatsoever mould the occasion requires, and he does so with utter precision.

I cannot emphasise enough what Casemiro stated about Kroos controlling the rhythm of Real Madrid’s game and making things go his way.

There are few players in the world with the same level of expertise as Kroos, let alone at Juventus. After all, he’s not known as the German Sniper for nothing!

Joachim Low on Toni Kroos: “You can pass him the ball at any time and he’ll find a way to deal with it, even if he’s under pressure. He has great vision and a sense of where he is on the pitch.” Couldn’t agree more.

Left Midfielder (winger) – Vinicius Jr

Real has been on the watch for Brazilian talent more than ever after missing out on Neymar, and this is maybe the search that is beginning to bear fruit. Vinicius Jr joined Real as an 18-year-old, and after a prolonged start, the youngster has turned the tide in his favour.

Over the course of the previous season, Vinicius gained notoriety as he was finally able to complement his natural brilliance with a slight touch of finishing ability, which was sufficient to propel him to the top. He has gone a long way from being ridiculed on a consistent basis to being regarded as a serious candidate for the Ballon d’Or.

Vinicius seems to have zero competition from any Juventus left winger on this list because of the restricted choices available to them and the reduced necessity for pure wingers in Allegri’s structure and philosophy.