Five seek redemption

For many players who perform in LaLiga, this championship will be one of second chances. In the particular case of Madrid it will be for some because they were injured, especially for Hazard and Asensio, who count again for Zidane in a decisive way. But there are also those who directly seek redemption, take advantage of the eleven games that remain to demonstrate that they can give enough level to have minutes in Madrid (or to remain important). Before the break, his performances cast many doubts. They are Militao, Marcelo, James, Bale and Mariano. These are the particular cases of each one.

Marcelo.

For some strange reason, Zidane has stopped trusting Marcelo as he has been doing until now. This fact has coincided with the arrival of Mendy, a request from him. The truth is that the prominence of the French side and Valverde have provided security to the team. This season he was setting defensive records (the problem was that he was missing a goal, less than two per game on average). Defensive security is proved by the fact that the white team had left the door to zero in 51% of the games that had been played before the break and that they left a historical record (13 goals conceded in 22 days). Marcelo has little to do with that. The Brazilian is now 32 years old and it is increasingly difficult for him to get into shape after periods of vacation or inactivity. It has complicated.

Militao.

Militao is by far the most expensive defender in Madrid's 118-year history. It cost 50 million euros. Pepe, Coentrao, Danilo and Odriozola follow in this classification. 30 were paid for all of them. Militao is also the seventh defense that has cost the most in international football after Maguire (87, United), Van Dijk (85, Liverpool), Laporte and Mendy (both 70, both to City), and Walker and Stones (both 55, both to City). Madrid was looking for a 21-year-old hit with a similar effect to the one he hit on the table with Pepe (it also cost 30 million). With Militao, for the moment, history is being written in a different way. He has only been able to play 12 games since landing at the Bernabéu. He is only 21 years old and, yes, the obligation to demonstrate that he is worth what it cost.

James.

His salary is a slab for Madrid. He charges almost ten million net per season (20 for the white entity) and has a contract until 2021. He has this season and another. It does not look like any other team is willing to assume that salary even though the Colombian is only 28 years old. The point is that Madrid does not want it and the player has not taken advantage of any of the opportunities given to him. Madrid paid 80 million euros for him to Monaco in the summer of 2014, after it was the Golden Boot of the World Cup. His left foot has given Madrid 37 goals in 124 games this time. But it has stopped dead. This season he has only played 13 games. He has an opportunity to assert himself and have a decent start: it only sounds for MLS.

Bale.

His role on the team right now is unknown. Zidane did not resort to him from the start in the decisive duels against City and Barça despite the fact that he could not count on either Hazard or Asensio. Now that the two are back, the Welshman will have to recover his best version if he wants to have minutes … Despite the fact that the club opened the door for him last summer and that Zidane himself said that it would be better if he “left today that Tomorrow ”, the truth is that the coach always ends up pulling the Welshman. He is by far the player with the most goal in the squad. It is also the one that charges the most (14.5 million net) along with Ramos. A good end to the campaign could help him achieve his goal, that he get a good offer from MLS to play golf in the US while giving his last hits in football. He has a contract with Real Madrid until 2022. His representative, Jonathan Barnett, already offers it openly with his statements, both to the US and to the Premier. This season he has played 18 games and scored three goals.

Jovic.

Mariano could be included in this chapter, but it seems that the Spanish-Dominican has no future in Madrid no matter what happens in these eleven games. Zidane simply does not have him. Jovic's is a separate case, because he is a very valid player even for the entity. His is an X-File. It cost 60 million euros paid to Eintracht. Last season, there, he made a whopping 27 goals in 48 games … and in Madrid he stopped dead: two goals in 24. Beyond that circumstance, he did show the wayward side of his personality: he left to Serbia in the midst of confinement, putting Madrid himself in trouble and then, to top it all off, he came back injured in one foot. He has few options to be important in these eleven games that remain more the return of the Champions (and, why not, even more in the European competition), but he would do well to strive to get and be important … The shadow of Haaland is very elongated. All in all, Madrid seems determined to give it a second chance.