There have been plenty of blockbuster transfers in this window. The latest one is Casemiro joining Manchester United from Real Madrid.
Manchester United seems happy because they could finally recruit a world-class footballer. Real Madrid looks happy as they got quite a good chunk of money from the transfer.
More so because they already spent around 100 million for Tchoumaeni, and the transfer of Casemiro helped them maintain a good net spend.
This marks the end of one of the finest midfield trios ever. Barring any surprise, the UEFA Super Cup game against Frankfurt was the last time the legendary Kroos-Casemiro-Modric (KCM) played and won something together.
Deep down, no matter how satisfied Real Madrid look with the money, they have a problem.
Kroos-Modric-Casemiro have been playing together for seven years. They played, they won, they dominated in the truest sense. They were invincible.
There is no denying that all of them are individually excellent players. However, the fact that they were so well over the years was because they complemented each other.
Kroos would play the role of passer and controller. Modric did all the hard-works for Kroos’s lack of this regard, added with his enormous creativity and guile. Casemiro did the dirty work and played the role of a destroyer. Hardly anything of the opponent went past him.
Now with the departure of one, this deadly and dreamy combination is broken. And it would never be easy to replace it.
Make no mistake. Real Madrid has all the talent in their arsenal.
With the inclusion of Camavinga, Tchoumaeni, and Valverde being already present, their midfield looks set for a decade.
However, the problem is for the next 2-3 seasons; it’d be hard for them to start over Kroos and Modric. It is true, at least for this season.
These two have been playing with Casemiro for so long that the concern arises of whether Tchoumaeni/Camavinga gel with them or not.
Although, in these seven years, it never seemed that they were habituated to a specific style of play. But there are many examples of such dysfunction after a heavy departure.
Therefore, there is the test of Ancelotti. Considering the facts, will it be wise to continue fielding Kroos and Modric along with someone else?
Alternatively, will it be better to try playing only one of them, try two of Tchoumaeni/Camavinga/Valverde, and set a midfield combination for the next five years?
Now it is not easy to bench Kroos or Modric, whatever the situation is.
At the same time, the game of Tchoumaeni and Camavinga seems similar. It means they are yet to be tested together whether they make a good combination or not.
Another point is that Ancelotti prefers Valverde at the right-wing or the right midfield, creating a 4-man midfield shape.
The right-winger Real Madrid has for now is Rodrygo, whom Ancelotti doesn’t seem to have enough faith in to be a starter. Another one is Asensio, whose position in the team is shaky.
That said, Carlo Ancelotti finds himself in the middle of some tough decisions. Nevertheless, the veteran is adamant about his squad and expressed his satisfaction without any further signing this window.
ahnaf.sabit10@gmail.com