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Real Madrid endured a campaign to forget last season. The Spanish giants failed to find their mojo, resulting in a trophyless campaign at the Santiago Bernabeu. They lost the Liga title to city rivals Atletico Madrid and also watched helplessly as Barcelona strolled to claim the Copa del Rey trophy.
After crashing out of the UEFA Champions League in the semifinals, it became obvious that the squad needed a few vital changes before the next campaign. In line with that, we have already witnessed a few developments that are worth mentioning.
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On top of them all lies the controversial decision to let go of Sergio Ramos. The defender is now a Paris Saint-Germain player, as he the French side as a free agent last month after Real Madrid refused to offer him a suitable contract.
How will Real Madrid fare without Sergio Ramos?
It remains a nightmare for many fans to remember that Sergio Ramos has left Real Madrid after spending almost a decade and a half in the Spanish capital. Considering what he has given the team over the years, what he meant to the club and how popular he was among the Los Blancos faithful, it is a huge blow for everyone involved.
To make matters worse, the club haven't signed a proper replacement for the departed centre-back. That means they'll likely look in-house for answers when the season kicks off. It remains to be seen how Carlo Ancelotti will solve the crisis after taking over from Zinedine Zidane as the gaffer in June.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid have seen significant reinforcements in other departments. David Alaba arrived from Bayern Munich on a free transfer recently while the likes of Gareth Bale, Takefusa Kubo, Martin Odegaard, Jesus Vallejo, Dani Ceballos, Brahim Diaz and Luka Jovic all returned from their respective loans.
With the resources at his disposal, Ancelotti won't be short of options to field a world-class team to fight for every trophy next season. On that note, we'll quickly take a look at how Real Madrid can line up when the fresh campaign kicks off:
Goalkeeper: Thibaut Courtois
It is a no-brainer to see that Thibaut Courtois will keep his place between the sticks for Real Madrid next season. The Belgian was unstoppable last term, finishing with the second-highest number of La Liga clean sheets - 17 from 38 games.
He maintained his form in the recently concluded European Championships, playing a vital role in Belgium's run to the quarterfinals. It's interesting to learn that Courtois conceded just three goals throughout the tournament despite facing elite teams such as Russia, Denmark, Portugal and Italy.
That level of performance will naturally attract more opportunities. Ancelotti will surely be glad to have the guardian in red-hot form.
Left-back: Marcelo
With Sergio Ramos now in Paris, the big responsibility falls on Marcelo's shoulders to lead the team as captain. Having spent almost as much time as his ex-teammate in the Spanish capital, there's no doubt Marcelo already has enough experience in his bag to step up and make the difference.
The Brazilian turned 33 in May but it doesn't look like he'll be stepping down anytime soon, especially given his new role. He was a constant presence in the team during Ancelotti's first spell at the club. The same could well happen this time around.
Center back: Nacho Fernandez
Ancelotti will have a hard nut to crack when he attempts to field his center-back pairing next season. Raphael Varane is closer than ever to joining Manchester United this summer, leaving the club without its two favored options at the heart of the defense.
Given the scenario, Nacho Fernandez will likely be summoned to fill one of the center-back spots. The Spaniard was given a lot of playing time last season and he didn't disappoint. He made 33 appearances for Los Blancos in the 2020-21 campaign and even bagged a goal and an assist.
Center-back - Eder Militao
Real Madrid's center-back crisis will open up the opportunity for Eder Militao to embrace a more important role in Los Blancos' defense. The Brazilian switched to the Santiago Bernabeu from Porto in 2019 and his adaptation has gone really well so far.
Last season, Militao made 21 appearances for the Spanish giants across all competitions, scoring twice and setting up his teammate once. Alongside Nacho Fernandes, he could form a decent partnership at the center of the defense.
Right-back: Dani Carvajal
Fortunately, Dani Carvajal will be available for Ancelotti to count on next season. The defender has been unlucky with injuries in recent years but it appears he has finally put his fitness crisis behind him.
On his day, the Spaniard remains one of the best players in Europe in his position. He was an undisputed starter in Real Madrid's formidable team that won the Champions League for three consecutive seasons. There will be no stopping him if he manages to remain injury-free next season.
Central midfielder: Toni Kroos
It is highly unlikely to see anyone usurping Toni Kroos' spot in Real Madrid's starting lineup next season. The German will, once again, provide answers for the team in the center of the pitch.
Despite turning 30 in June, the midfielder is still going strong. He was one of the top performers for Los Blancos last term, as he ended the campaign with three goals and 12 assists across all competitions.
His creativity, vision, and decisiveness could help the Galacticos, who will be looking to make up for the disappointment of last term.
Central midfielder: Luka Modric
Luka Modric will soon pass the baton to another midfielder to take up his role but it is definitely not going to be next season. Considering his level of performance at Euro 2020, everything indicates that the Croatian has what it takes to carry on for at least another term.
Modric has been at the heart of the Los Blancos midfield for several years, dictating proceedings from the center of the park and raising the level of performance of his teammates. There's no doubt he will be an important figure in the team under Ancelotti.
Defensive midfielder: Casemiro
Casemiro remains a force to be reckoned with. His performances for Brazil in the Copa America this summer proved that he still has a lot of fuel left in his tank and that is music to Ancelotti's ears.
The midfielder is in decent form at the moment. Real Madrid will be hoping to have him playing at the top of his game. Shielding the defense, contributing to team play and moving the ball forward to launch attacking moves, Casemiro is certainly going to be a huge asset for the Spanish club next season.
Left-winger: Eden Hazard
Eden Hazard has failed to live up to expectations since leaving Chelsea to complete a big-money move to Real Madrid. The attacker's time in the Spanish capital has been plagued by constant injuries. He made just 21 appearances for the Galacticos last term, contributing three goals and one assist.
Hazard is currently sidelined after picking up a knock while representing Belgium at the Euros but he is expected to recover before the next campaign begins. If he manages to stay fit, he'd be a great weapon for Los Blancos.
Striker: Karim Benzema
Karim Benzema was Real Madrid's standout performer last season. The Frenchman enjoyed a prolific outing in front of goal with a record of 30 goals and nine assists to his name in 46 appearances across all competitions.
Los Blancos will turn to him for answers upfront once again next season. Benzema is still going strong despite his age and has shown no signs of slowing down. He finished as the third top scorer at Euro 2020 courtesy of his four goals for France in as many games.
Right-winger: Gareth Bale
Real Madrid's attack has been boosted by the return of Gareth Bale, who spent the last campaign on loan with Tottenham Hotspur. The Welshman enjoyed a good run with the Premier League side that saw him bag 16 goals and three assists in 34 games.
Bale will add significant firepower to Los Blancos' attack. Alongside Benzema and Hazard, Carlo Ancelotti could field one of the best attacking trios -- at least on paper -- to destroy opposition defenses in Europe next season.
