Real Madrid have a real identity crisis this season. After winning three Champions League titles in the last four years, the club had to deal with the losses of Cristiano Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane this summer.
After their department, all went downhill for the squad. Zidane's successor, Julen Lopetegui, got fired after just five months in charge. After that, they appointed Santiago Solari as the club's coach until the end of the season.
However, there is no hope that they will have a successful season. They seem like they don't have a concrete system on the field, old players look saturated and most importantly, the team lacks a real leader on the pitch. If Florentino Perez wants a bright future for his team, he must make serious changes this summer. The first question that needs to be resolved is the managerial question. The team needs a manager with a concrete playing style.
This manager needs to make a shift of generations because some old players have lost their fire. Real Madrid have bought some exceptional young talents who could make The club only needs a manager who will introduce these young lads to the starting eleven.
So, who are these young talents? The picture below shows how Real Madrid could lineup in five years.
Goalkeeper - Andriy Lunin
Thibaut Courtois is currently the first choice goalkeeper but Andriy Lunin is the future of Real Madrid. The 19-year-old goalkeeper came this summer from Zorya Luhansk for €8.5 million plus €5 million in add-ons.
Even with his 191 cm of height, he is very mobile which makes him a perfect modern goalkeeper. He is also very good with the ball at his feet, has very good reflexes with an excellent reading of the game.
Evidence of his amazing talent lies in the fact that he has earned 3 senior caps for the Ukranian international team at only 19 years of age. Lunin's signing is an excellent project for the future and he could give his best years to this club.
Defenders
Real Madrid's defense for the future should ideally be: Right-back: Achraf Hakimi, Centre-backs: Raphael Varane and Jesus Vallejo, Left back: Sergio Reguilon.
Considering that Sergio Ramos is 32 years of age, it is clear that the club will soon need a new captain. No one is better suited for that task than his current partner in the heart in the defense, Raphael Varane. The French international, who won the World Cup with his national team this summer, came to Real Madrid in the summer of 2011.
He has established himself as one of the irreplaceable players in the starting lineup. He already won 11 trophies with Real Madrid, including 4 Champions League titles in the last 5 years. Known for his strength, speed and technical ability, Varane is only 25 years old and he still has plenty to offer in the Los Blancos shirt.
His partner in the heart of the defencs could be Jesus Vallejo, the 22-year-old centre back who came to Real in the summer of 2015 from Zaragoza. What is incredible about him is that he was Zaragoza's captain aged only 18.
In the 2016/17 season, he went to Eintracht Frankfurt where he demonstrated his class. He is a very talented player with excellent physical predispositions. However, he quite often has problems with different injuries. If he can solve that problem, he definitely has a bright future at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Once Dani Carvajal is past his best, Real Madrid don't need to worry about his replacement. They already have two exceptional players to fill his boots: Alvaro Odriozola and Achraf Hakimi. Of these two players, Hakimi seems like the one that has more potential.
Hakimi is 3 years younger than Odriozola and is currently on the loan at Borussia Dortmund. He has already established himself in the starting lineup of Favre's squad which is currently at the top of the Bundesliga. The Moroccan international has 17 appearances in all competitions with 1 goal scored and 6 assists provided.
Dortmund is perfect for his development and when he returns to Madrid, he will surely be ready to be the first pick for their starting eleven.
The best left back in the world right now is definitely Marcelo Vieira. Real Madrid can be happy to have had this player in their squad for years. However, he doesn't have many years left at the top level as he is already 30 years old. It is therefore time to think about his replacement.
Sergio Reguilon looks like a player who could perfectly replace Marcelo on the left side of Real Madrid's defense. He has many similarities to the Brazilian, as he is fantastic offensively with abilities to dribble, cross and make overlapping runs. He grabs every opportunity with both hands and most importantly, plays with an unbelievable desire to prove himself in his favourite shirt. Because of this approach, he has already garnered the sympathy of many fans.
Midfielders
The future Real Madrid midfield line up could consist of these players: Marcos Llorente, Dani Ceballos and Brahim Diaz.
In the future, the defensive midfielder position should be reserved for Marcos Llorente, who has played extraordinarily this season. Without a doubt, he is the most improved player in Real Madrid's squad this season. Last season was not good for him but he now challenges Casemiro for a spot in the starting lineup.
He is much more comfortable on the ball than Casemiro, with the special ability to drive with the ball from defense under pressure. His long-range passes and calmness have earned him comparisons with Xabi Alonso. Llorente is a true Madridista in his heart and if there is anyone that deserves to be a future legend at Santiago Bernabeu, it is definitely him.
The latest Real Madrid recruit is Brahim Diaz, a former Manchester City player. In pursuit of more regular time, Diaz finalized his move to the Santiago Bernabeu this January by signing a six-and-a-half-year deal. The young Spanish midfielder, who can use his both feet very well, made only 5 substitute appearances in the Premier League for Manchester City. So, why did Real pay £15 million to sign him?
He is a very small and technically gifted player whose driving runs and dribbles are often compared with those of Lionel Messi. He has a big desire to be in possession, regardless of being under pressure in busy areas. He has been one of the 3 Manchester City gems along with Jadon Sancho and Phil Foden. If he turns to be as good as Jadon Sancho, then Real Madrid have a world-class player in their hands.
Dani Ceballos is yet to make an impact at Real Madrid, but when the situation at the club calms down, we can expect him to become the main playmaking force at Real Madrid.
The 22-year-old midfielder is a quality player who proved his mettle at the U21 Euro 2017 where he won the award for the best player of the tournament. Aged just 20, Ceballos was Betis' main player. He can do wonders with the ball, has a good vision and also contributes to defense. With a little bit of physical improvement, he could become a world class midfielder. He is still very young and has plenty of time to demonstrate his value.
Forwards
We finally select the forwards that deserve a place in the side: Rodrygo Goes, Vinicius Junior and Marco Asensio.
Real Madrid are very lucky to have probably the two hottest prospects from Brazil. Vinicius Junior is already at the club, and has been one of their few positives in the current chaos. On the other hand, Rodrygo Goes will come to the club at the end of this season.
Many fans already want Vinicius to become a regular starter in Santiago Solari's squad, which is the best proof of how good he has been. He constantly offers a threat on the wing and is often their only attacking force. Aged only 18, Vinicius is already knocking very hard at the door of Europe's elite.
Rodrygo is an offensive all-rounder, capable of playing in various positions. Both Vinicius and he are capable of playing on the wing and in the centre-forward position so we could expect them to interchange positions very quickly. With them in the squad, Real Madrid could go on to great things in the next couple of years.
Marco Asensio is another victim of the chaos that governs Real Madrid at the moment. A common mistake that coaches often make is forcing him to play him on the left wing. Asensio has an excellent shot with his left foot, so it is a crime to waste his talent on the left side. His best position is on the right wing from where he can cut inside and take shots.
It is no secret that many fans are disappointed with his performances this season. Touted as club's new leader, Asensio has only 1 goal and 3 assists in the La Liga this season. However, this season cannot and must not be a criterion of his abilities. When everything calms down at Real Madrid, Asensio will prove his worth.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and they do not necessarily represent the views of Sportskeeda.