REAL MADRID
Will Real Madrid sign a new defender to replace the injured Éder Militão?
The Militão-Alaba partnership is Carlo Ancelotti’s preferred choice at the heart of the Real Madrid defence.
Real Madrid are still coming to terms with losing centre-back Éder Militão for the whole season. The club have full confidence in defenders Antonio Rüdiger and Nacho, and are unlikely to sign a replacement for Militão before the end of the summer window.
Los Blancos have replaced the injured Thibaut Courtois with Kepa, but the current group of central defenders at the Bernabéu is considered sufficient. They could resort to an emergency solution without even turning to Real Madrid Castilla by using Ferland Mendy as a fourth-choice centre-back once he returns from injury.
Real Madrid see no reason to incorporate a central defender who would be behind David Alaba, Antonio Rüdiger and Nacho in the pecking order. The Militão-Alaba partnership is Carlo Ancelotti’s preferred choice in the heart of the defence, however, Rüdiger played 3,844 minutes in his first season at the club, more than Alaba (3,001′). Nacho, in his triple role (centre-back/right-back/left-back) was not far behind the Austrian with 2,676 minutes.
Other options for Real Madrid
The idea, for now, is to make do with the three fit centre-backs at the club. At Castilla, Marvel (20), Edgar Pujol (19) and Jacobo Serrano (18) are the young central defenders currently working under Raúl and could be called upon if required this season.