Injury plagued Madrid now rueing Odegaard & Jovic loan deals
Despite the economic boost generated by loaning out the Serbian striker and Norwegian midfielder, Zidane could desperately do with their services as injuries plague the squad.
Little time has past since Real Madrid opted to loan out Martin Odegaard (Arsenal) and Luka Jovic (Eintracht Frankfurt) during the recent winter transfer window. With the Real Madrid first team depleted with an unusually high amount of injuries, Zidane has been forced to call upon a series of Real Madrid Castilla players for recent LaLiga games against Getafe and Valencia with the Frenchman forced to employ a similar policy for the game against Valladolid and for next week's Champions League clash away in Bergamo.
With Casemiro, Modric and Kroos playing every weekend and midweek coupled with the injury to Valverde and Isco's ostracism, having the Odegaard as cover would have been invaluable for Zidane as a solid back-up. Real Madrid saved two million euro by letting the player move to the Premier League side for the remainder of the 2020/21 campaign.
Benzema Bergamo doubt
With Benzema being ruled out of the league trip to Valladolid and the French striker also a serious doubt for the Champions League Round of 16 game against Atalanta, Mariano has been given the task of filling the striker's place. Having Jovic available would have afforded Zizou with a solid alternative despite his indifferent form at the club since his big money move from Eintracht. Once again, Madrid make a saving of five million euro by loaning him back to the German side for the remainder of the current season.
Real Madrid are missing nine key first team players for the trio Valladolid: Ramos, Carvajal, Militao, Odriozola, Marcelo, Valverde, Hazard, Rodrygo and Benzema with the first team squad now just boasting 22 registered players.