There was a time when Real Madrid had a really old squad. Even a couple of decades ago, they had an ageing side that needed a revamp.
They eventually got that revamp, and within a few years they were gunning for every possible title in Europe, with a mixture of veterans at the peak of their craft and young players learning from them every step of the way.
As of late, though, there has been a shift in how Real Madrid operate. With every passing year, the squad seems to get younger.
Last season, they already had a young team - but this season they’ve taken it up a notch after a couple of departures and a few new signings.
According to a recent report by MARCA, Real Madrid now have the youngest squad they’ve had since 1998, breaking a record that stood for 27 years. Their average age is now 25.07 years.
Real Madrid have a very, very young squad
It makes perfect sense. They’ve just let go of two of their oldest players, Lucas Vázquez and Luka Modrić.
They’ve also brought in Franco Mastantuono, who will be just 18 when he joins, as well as the young Alvaro Carreras. Even Trent Alexander-Arnold, while not a teenager, is nowhere near the veteran age bracket of Vázquez or Modrić.
Ironically, this squad will get even younger next season, as more older players leave and further reduce the average age.
Having a squad like this can be both a blessing and a curse. The younger players will gain experience as the season progresses, and that’s invaluable.
However, they will also miss leaders like Modrić, who had been through it all and could calm things down when it mattered most. They still have players like Dani Carvajal in the squad, but that single towering profile is gone.
The likes of Fede Valverde, Aurelien Tchouameni, and Vinícius Jr - all of whom have already won everything in recent years - will now have to step up. Carvajal will have to take up a big role. Antonio Rüdiger will have to take up that role. Thibaut Courtois will have to take up that role as well.
It’s a blessing and a curse, but having such a young squad also gives Real Madrid the chance to create a true dynasty. If they get it right, they could build a team capable of dominating Europe for the next five or six years.
They also have a young coach with fresh ideas in Xabi Alonso - exactly what a team like Real Madrid needs. Combine those two factors, and on paper, this is a brilliant side capable of doing everything expected of them.
It’s just the problems from last season that worry people. But in some time, we’ll see the results.