It didn't take long for Madrid ended up paying for the two transfers of important footballers, such as Odegaard and Jovic, who did in the winter market. The plague of injuries this season so atypical I would have given a fundamental role to both. To the Norwegian, mainly because of Valverde's injury and the definitive ostracism to which Zidane is subjecting Isco. To the Serbian striker, obviously, due to Benzema's last injury just when Madrid is playing his continuity in the Champions League.
Odegaard's departure has left midfield heavily decimated. In addition to Casemiro, Modric and Kroos, who start everything, there are only Valverde (now injured) and Isco (who does not finish understanding with Zidane). The sanction of Kroos for the League game against Getafe forced Zidane even to change the system (so as not to get hold of Isco). And he put three centrals. The experiment went well (2-0 win), but if it had been Odegaard would have faced the situation with much more normality. With the loan of the Norwegian, Madrid he saves two million (four gross) from his token.
The passage of time after Jovic's departure has also shown the importance of having a guaranteed substitute for Benzema. Is Mariano the only alternative now that the Frenchman has been injured. The Hispanic-Dominican arrives a bit rusty to this extreme situation that arises before Atalanta. He has only played 466 minutes in the last season and a half, in which he has scored two goals. Conversely, the signing of the 60 million euros, Jovic, tries to get his head again at Eintracht. Madrid will he saves the proportional part of his annual tab of five million (ten gross). Benzema's injury was the perfect situation for Jovic to try to get off the ground in Madrid.
The current situation in Madrid is totally anomalous. If for the League match against Getafe he had ten casualties (nine injuries and the penalty of Kroos), for this one against Valladolid he repeats precariousness with nine injured. They are Ramos, Carvajal, Militao, Odriozola, Marcelo, Valverde, Hazard, Rodrygo and Benzema. On the other hand, the current year, in which there has been almost no preseason, with COVID as a threat and the accumulation of matches, required the widest possible staff. Madrid currently has 22 players without the aforementioned Odegaard and Jovic.