After a La Liga triumph and second consecutive Champions League win, Real Madrid & Zinedine Zidane are on the verge of dominating football for years to come. Last season they were unstoppable and played a brand of football nobody could live with, leading to great achievements.
For Los Blancos to sustain such success, vital tweaks to the starting XI will need to be made. As some players go out, others will come in to improve on them. Zinedine Zidane is a shrewd character that weighs up every decision, so it’s no doubt that he’ll carefully be contemplating his starting XI for next season.
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Here’s how Real Madrid might look going into the 2017/18 season.
Formation: 4-3-3
GK: David De Gea
Despite the heroics of Keylor Navas in the Champions League final, the Costa Rican keeper has never been a fan favourite at the Bernabéu. The 30-year old is heralded with abuse any time he makes an error.
Real Madrid fans are among the harshest in world football and it’s time Navas was allowed some reprieve. His time in the firing line hasn’t been helped by the impending transfer of David De Gea.
The Madrid-raised keeper has been hailed by the Real faithful as the best keeper in the world, and they desperately want the best at their club. It’s not ‘if’ this transfer will happen, it’s when.
Defenders
RB: Dani Carvajal
As one of the best right-backs in Europe, Dani Carvajal’s place in the Zidane’s starting XI is more than secure. The Spaniard is an integral component to Madrid’s build-up play as they always need their full-backs to be high on the flanks to stretch the pitch. Not many in world football can balance the duties of defending and attacking like Dani Carvajal.
CB: Raphael Varane
The Frenchman was able to capitalise on Pepe’s lengthy injuries last season. It’s no secret that Zidane prefers experience over youth but in this scenario, he was forced to give Varane the experience he needs. Now Pepe is on his way out of the club and Raphael Varane will embark on his path to become a Real Madrid legend.
CB: Sergio Ramos
If there was anyone you could ever say was close to or on par with Ronaldo’s status at Real Madrid, it’s Sergio Ramos. The Spanish icon resembles everything the club embodies; class, style, winning and ruthlessness. The 31-year old is the club captain and he forever will be until he decides to retire.
LB: Marcelo
It’s getting harder & harder nowadays to argue against Marcelo being the best full-back in the world today. At the age of 29, Marcelo was able to take his stock to new heights last season as he put in several quality high-profile performances. The Brazilian is irreplaceable and there’s no left-back Zidane would rather have in his team.
Midfielders
DM: Casemiro
Many criticised his inclusion when Rafael Benitez first picked him, but Casemiro is now a Real Madrid hero. His goal in the Champions League final came at a pivotal time that Los Blancos fans will remember forever. His tenacity and aggressive nature in midfield have allowed the likes of Modric & Kroos to thrive with no defensive duties.
CM: Luka Modric
As long as Luka Modric has breath in his lungs, he will always have a starting place at the Bernabéu. The Croatian magician is a midfielder that seamlessly runs the whole game with one or two touches at a time. He’s central to everything Madrid do attacking-wise, as he’s the one everyone looks towards to spark a bit of magic.
CM: Toni Kroos
Under the tutelage of Luka Modric, Toni Kroos has blossomed into a young Xabi Alonso. The German now acts as a calming presence in the midfield that slowly keeps game ticking. His role is not glamorous, but it is critical to Real Madrid’s success.
Forwards
RW: Gareth Bale
The Welshman didn’t have the best of campaigns last season but the 27-year old will certainly come back with vengeance come August. Lest we forget, Gareth Bale is still one of the most expensive acquisitions in history, he has worth to his name and his marketing appeal cannot be ignored.
As the apparent heir to Ronaldo, Bale will have to fend off Isco the only way he knows how to, by blitzing defences. If he doesn’t produce the goods next season, it’ll be safe to take him off this list next June.
ST: Cristiano Ronaldo
Real Madrid is Cristiano Ronaldo and Cristiano Ronaldo is Real Madrid. After 9 years of happy memories, Ronaldo’s time at the Bernabéu is not set to be ruined by the frivolous ramblings of Spanish prosecutors.
He is a Madrid icon that still has more to accomplish in the Spanish capital, he not only wants to be their leading goalscorer, he wants to be their greatest player ever.
The hunger and desire of the Portuguese captain will not allow him to leave competing at the highest level. And let’s be honest, in world football today, you can’t get reach a higher summit than winning the Champions League back to back.
Cristiano Ronaldo will be here next season and we’ll again be talking about the several records he’s broken come the end of the campaign.
Also Read: Manchester United: The club Cristiano Ronaldo has friendzoned
LW: Eden Hazard
As two go out, one comes in. With James Rodríguez and Alvaro Morata seemingly on their way out of the Bernabéu, Real Madrid will need a superstar signing to make up for the huge losses. Florentino Perez has built his Madrid presidency on the back of huge ‘Galácticos’ signings and Eden Hazard is most definitely going to be the next one.
The Belgian is a player admired and desired by most of Europe’s elites as he can do things with the ball that only Messi can replicate. At 26 years of age, it’s now or never for Eden Hazard to make that switch to the next level as he’s at the height of his marketability and playing powers.
