What Asier Illarramendi Offers Real Madrid

Illarramendi’s signing gives Real Madrid a lot of options. Los Blancos can use different types of formation as they now have players who give them a wide range of variations in roles. Ancelotti can use Illarra in a double-pivot with either Modric (making it a very mobile, and quite direct with Modric’s presence, deep-midfield) or Alonso (superb passing outlets from deep) or in a 3-man midfield with both Xabi and Modric (direct, crunchy, mobile and a very creative midfield)/Sami Khedira (defensively stable midfield).

He also gives the Whites a diverse way of playing; a bit of tiki-taka-ness. Last season, teams shunted Real Madrid by letting them have the ball. Real, under Mourinho, were the most dangerous when teams came at them and gave them an opportunity to counter. However, when Real Madrid were allowed to have the possession, they struggled to break down the tight and laid-back defenses.

A little bit of tiki-taka – some quick, crisp, intricate short passes – would have helped Real break down these teams. But they couldn’t as they weren’t accustomed to playing in such a way. With Illarramendi and Ancelotti’s fixation with narrow formations, Real can do that.

Illarramendi is the typical new generation Spanish midfielder – someone brought up to play short and quick passes. Real only had Xabi who could do that prior to the signing of Illarra. Now they have three players in midfield who are accustomed to short-one-touch passing: Illarramendi, Xabi Alonso and Isco.

Illarramendi is the link between Xabi and Isco. While both Isco and Xabi can play quick short passes, they play quite far from each other and hence a link – another great short passer – was needed to play tiki-taka effectively. Illarramendi provides that link.

In the U-21 European Championship, Isco and Thiago earned all the plaudits and rightly so. However, Illarra must be given equal credit for assured performances behind them. He broke up plays of the opposition before they became dangerous. His passing went to another level as he made 82.4 passes-per-game with a success rate of an unreal 95.1%. This shows that in a team, which is superior to its opponent, he can become a lot better passing outlet.

At Real Madrid, he will get that kind of an environment. He will also be under the tutelage of Xabi Alonso and the great Zinedine Zidane – and that assures his improvement.

Illarramendi is more similar to another Basque: Javi Martinez. Illarramendi is more mobile than Alonso, like Javi Martinez. He is a better defender than Alonso, like Javi Martinez. His passing range isn’t as good Alonso’s, like Javi Martinez. His vision isn’t as good as Alonso’s, like Javi Martinez. So many similarities; it is uncanny.

And, like Javi Martinez, he cost his buyers a fortune. And, like Javi Martinez, he could become an integral figure in Real’s title surge next season.