Militao, the new Pepe

Despite the defeat and consequent elimination of Real Madrid against Athletic in the Cup (1-0), there was a Real Madrid player who stood out in the Bilbao night: Eder Militao (24 years old). The Brazilian gave a complete display when it comes to defending. Whether it was at the time of starting the play, getting the ball out, stopping the rojiblancos’ aerial game, covering the gaps of his teammates… he even dominated again and surpassed Iñaki Williams in the race and in one on one. For a couple of seasons, this duel has been one of the most striking in Spanish football between players.

soldier, that has sounded this week as one of potential candidates to replace at Chelsea to some of his defenders who are presumed not to continue (in the case of Azpilicueta, Ruediger and Christensen), once again gave a class in holding the team from the defensive end. Enamored with joining the attack, this time he was more restrained in this facet, becoming more involved in their area: the presence of Praise on the side he left him as an adventure partner Nacho, with which it coincided in the final stretch of the 2020-21 campaign, when both Ramos and Varane were affected by various muscle injuries that caused this duo to line up in key matchese for the whites, such as the qualifiers against Liverpool and Chelsea or the Clasico played at the Alfredo Di Stéfano.

Slowly, Militao is becoming (and surpassing) a new Pepe, the defender who landed on the summer 2007 after paying 30 million euros to Porto to get his services. At that time, and while the whites were looking for a replacement of guarantees for the defensive zone, the names that sounded were others, with special emphasis on the figure of the Romanian Chivu. It was difficult for Pepe to gain a foothold along with Cannavaro at rear axle White. Little by little, without making a noise, it was consolidated in the axis of the rear. His first great success came in December of that year, when stop Messi at the Camp Nou, allowing the Whites to win by the minimum (0-1, goal by Baptista).

Military It came in a surprise action by the madridistas: signed in March 2019 for 50 million euros (He is the most expensive defender that Madrid has signed). if it had been done the operation in the summer market, its price would have risen to 75 million of euros. Hence the speed in closing the operation. Madrid had been paying attention to both him and his partner Felipe (current Atlético de Madrid player) to reinforce his pair of central defenders made up of Ramos and Varane. Today, neither of them plays for Madrid…

Their physicals conditions, his speed, his youth (he was 21 years old), his ability to acclimatize to football like Spanish and a team like Madrid were highly valued. And like Pepe, it was difficult for him to get into the dynamics of the team. To this we must add that their first performances were not as successful as expected: in their first four games, the Whites lost to PSG (3-0) and Mallorca (1-0). In his second campaign (2020-21), the results were worse: two wins in his first six appearances (four losses…). But everything changed in the Champions League second leg against Atalanta: came on to replace Ramos in minute 64, and already no one would remove him from ownership.

This season an extraordinary couple has formed with David Alaba. only been lost two matches (one against Granada in the League remained on the bench and the other, against Elche in the Cup, did not play it to be expelled in the Super Cup final precisely against Athletic), and has become a Guardian angel for Courtois with numerous defensive actions. Against Athletic, in the Cup, he anticipated his rivals four times (mainly Iñaki Williams), he recovered as many balls, he gave eight good long passes, gave 10 headers (being two clearances of the five he made throughout the game) and had 100% successful entries. On Sunday it will form again in the center of the behind against Granada, precisely the only game that has been lost in the League in the first phase of the championship. Courtois will once again have his angel in front of him…