4. Marcelo Brozovic
Replacing Luka Modric with another talented Croatian in Marcelo Brozovic would be a fitting tribute to the departing 2018 Ballon d’Or winner. 27-year-old Brozovic is a quintessential part of Antonio Conte’s Inter Milan and the Croatian national team and the midfielder looks ready to take the next big leap in his career.
This season, Brozovic has 8 goal contributions in all competitions so far and is currently helping his team mount a significant title challenge against league leaders Lazio and reigning champions Juventus. Two seasons ago, he had a career-best 4 goals and 9 assists in the Serie A which highlighted his attacking prowess if given an advanced role in the team.
Having often been compared to Premier League legend Frank Lampard, Brozovic has an impeccable passing range, immaculate vision, superb work ethic and an attacking instinct similar to that of the Chelsea icon. Apart from his playmaking ability, Brozovic is known for his tackling, interceptions, ball-winning ability and off-the-ball running. He is also extremely flexible in terms of midfield positioning. Whether deployed as a deep-lying playmaker or a box-to-box midfielder, Brozovic makes sure that he leaves his mark on every game he plays.
Interestingly, Brozovic was not exactly a fan favourite during his first few years at the Nerazzurri. It was public knowledge that his relationship with Inter fans was filled with animosity as they would often jeer at him due to his sloppy performances and petulant attitude.
However, he has since then eliminated the inconsistencies of his game and has played a telling role under managers Luciano Spalletti and now Antonio Conte. Real Madrid would definitely welcome a seasoned player like Marcelo Brozovic into their ranks as he could not only replace Luka Modric in midfield but also bring in much-needed intelligence, command and leadership qualities to the club.