Lucas Silva named in Ligue 1 worst 11 of the season

On-loan Real Madrid midfielder Lucas Silva has been named in a worst Ligue 1 side by France Football magazine. The Brazilian midfielder joined Marseille last summer from the Bernabéu after just six months in the Spanish capital and has failed to make much of an impact at the Vélodrome.

Silva arrived at Real Madrid for a fee of 13 million euros from Cruzeiro as one of the most promising young players in the Brasileiro, having been named the best defensive midfielder in the Brazilian top flight in 2014. Silva was signed by Real on the basis of his reputation as a midfielder who adds to the defensive shape of a team and building play from the back. However, he did not excite much confidence under Carlo Ancelotti, making just nine appearances for the side over six months, mostly as a substitute.

When Rafa Benítez arrived at the Bernabéu he was similarly underwhelmed and the club elected to seek a loan deal so that Silva could gain some experience in the European leagues. Marseille manager Míchel, a former Real Madrid great, snapped up the player and believed he could become a key part of his side. However, despite Míchel’s faith Silva’s performances have been decidedly mediocre and he has slipped from the starting 11 to a place on the bench and been subjected to jeers from the Marseille support.

All of this combined compelled France Football to include Silva in their worst 11 of the season so far alongside another former Liga luminary, Sergi Darder, who joined Olympique Lyon last summer in a 12 million euro deal from Málaga.

France Football’s worst 11 of the season so far:

Keeper: Mauro Goicoechea (Toulouse)

Defenders: André Poko (Girondins), Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa (Lyon), Karim Rekik (Olympique Marseille), Paolo De Ceglie (Olympique Marseille).

Midfielders: Lucas Silva (Olympique Marseille), Sergi Darder (Lyon), Lucas Ocampos (Olympique Marseille), Adryan (Nantes).

Forwards: Brandao (Bastia), Nolan Roux (Saint-Étienne).