One of Real Madrid’s most significant players over the last decade has chosen to leave the club in a stunning decision that no one could have envisaged. The sale of Casemiro to Manchester United is now official, putting an end to the great three of Toni Kroos, Casemiro, and Luka Modric, who won it all at Real Madrid.
The trio had won countless titles together, and now just two of them remain, with one of the most crucial pieces no longer there.
This move definitely had a negative impact on the supporters, who are still struggling to grasp how quickly everything happened, but perhaps there is another shift in store for them, good or bad, we leave that up to you to decide.
With one of the three gone, the duties of those who remain are called into doubt. Kroos and Modric’s skills are now without the defensive support of Casemiro, which may necessitate modifications in their roles and what the team expects of the two midfielders.
Toni Kroos and Luka Modric might be called in to play different roles at Real Madrid than they did previously
Casemiro is on his way to England, as is a dependable defensive midfielder capable of covering for the defence and forming creative combinations with Kroos and Modric. Aurelien Tchouameni, on the other hand, is still young and inexperienced, and entrusting him with the full responsibility of replacing the Brazilian may not be the best way to proceed. His playing time will increase, but total dependence is not the ideal strategy.
The most likely scenario is that Kroos and Modric will be given greater defensive responsibilities, which may or may not limit their creative potential. If this occurs, it will be necessary to enlist the help of a third creative midfielder, such as Dani Ceballos, to make up for the shortfall.
Carlo Ancelotti may request that Kroos adjust to a central defensive midfield role and stick back as a cover for the back four. This is not a new role for the German, but it is one he does not play all too often.
Kroos has played in front of the back four several times, and while he has had his share of excellent and terrible performances, the majority of the ratio still favours him.
If Kroos is asked to fill in for the departing Casemiro more regularly until Tchouameni settles in, or perhaps permanently, which is the most likely option Ancelotti will make, it will not make much of a difference. Even in a holding midfield role, the ‘Sniper’ has maintained his ball distribution precision while still performing defensive tasks, albeit with a few gaffes that may go away with more practice in the position.
A constraint on Modric, who has before been the subject of tests by Ancelotti with dreadful outcomes, is more terrifying. The manager is expected to have learnt from his error of playing Modric as a false 9, but another panic scenario involving the need to cover for Casemiro may force the Italian to ask the Croatian for another favour, even though the likelihood is extremely low.
Depending on who plays defensive midfield, Kroos or Tchouameni, Modric’s job will either remain the same or slightly shift with a minor reduction in his inventiveness and increased demands going back, and players like Federico Valverde, Ceballos, and Tchouameni, who are both waiting for more playing time and a breakout season with Real Madrid, will likely be given more responsibility.