‘Collateral’ problem in Madrid

The coronavirus crisis has stopped football, but not activity at Real Madrid. The players, confined to their homes, strictly follow the personalized exercise program designed by Gregory Dupont; Zidane and his staff work electronically and are in contact with the players; Y Little by little, they think about the movements to be made for the next season (the club expects at least five sales, as reported this Saturday by AS). Part of the planning was conditioned to the final result of the knockout round of the Champions League against City, where Madrid had to overcome a 1-2, but the pandemic has changed the scenario and modified the times. However, there are issues that the club is aware of that they will have to address in the face of next season: the Bale case, the scorer issue and clearing up the unknown on the sides. The latter will be one of the cases to be resolved in Madrid: With two fixes (Carvajal and Mendy), four men compete for two holes (Achraf, Odriozola, Marcelo and Reguilón).

On the right side, Carvajal (28 years old) is immovable but the question arises in his rival for the position. Since January, it has been Militao who has occasionally played there with questionable performance. Madrid transferred Odriozola to Bayern in the winter market and Achraf has been in Dortmund for a year and a half. In them both is the question. In the club they are clear that the Moroccan, 21, is already a player made for the rigor of the Bernabéu after two years cooking with great success at Borussia Dortmund (He has played 65 games and 5,249 minutes, has scored ten goals and given 17 assists and has won a German Super Cup). They want me to come back to stay. The player, for his part, does not hide that his desire is to succeed in white, but he prioritizes playing. “I cannot lie, of course I would like to succeed in Madrid, it is my home. But if not, I will try to succeed elsewhere. That is my dream”he said in AS. When his loan ends this year, Madrid and Achraf (their contract ends in 2021) will sit down to talk to make a decision. Zidane holds him in high esteem and understands that he would have a place in his next project, but he must convince him (he has offers on the table) that, despite being Carvajal, he will have an important role. His versatility (he can play on the left and the winger) undoubtedly works in his favor.

The one who has the most difficult continuity is Odriozola (24 years old). Zidane put him on the market this winter despite being a bet from the club, which paid for him 35 million in 2018. In season and a half, he played 27 games scored a goal, but did not earn Zidane's confidence. This season he only played five games in white and the defeat against Mallorca signaled him. With a contract until 2024, he was transferred to Bayern until the end of the season, but in Germany things have not been better. He unintentionally injured his partner Perisic and Flick, his coach, has him ostracized: He has only given him 70 minutes in ten games, and 63 of them were due to injuries from Niklas Süle and Javi Martínez. Zidane does not have him in principle and Madrid must find him a destination …

The other wing also throws up questions. Mendy (24 years old), signed this year from Lyon at the request of Zidane and Bettoni, has earned the coach's trust and the Bernabéu's respect for his defensive solvency. He arrived to oxygenate Marcelo (31), whom Zidane was determined to recover, but he has ended up playing the most demanding games precisely because of his seriousness at work back. The unknown is to know what will happen to the Brazilian next season (he still has two contract left). With a discreet performance again this season and with several stoppages due to injury, his future is a mystery. The player has stated on numerous occasions that he wants to retire at Concha Espina, but also that he does not want to be a burden. As reported this Saturday by AS, a joint decision will be made with him based on what his role in the project will be. If Marcelo remains a year in white, that would close the doors to Reguilón (23 years old), side of the quarry that this season has taken flight on his loan at Sevilla. In fact, the youth squad, who signed a year on loan, no longer rules out continuing another campaign in Nervión: “Here I feel very loved.” Madrid have great faith in him, that is why they do not consider a transfer and instead continue on the path of transfer. Everything will depend on what happens with Marcelo's future …