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Reigning UEFA Champions League winners Real Madrid are passing through a period of transition. The Madrid-based club goes into the new season with massive changes to their squad and ethos.
It all started when Zinedine Zidane, a coach who had led the Los Blancos to the European triumph, decided to resign from his role at Real Madrid.
But it was just a prelude for things to come. Cristiano Ronaldo, a name synonymous with Real Madrid's recent glory, switched his base to Turin in one of the most shocking moves of this summer. Real Madrid has not yet been able to find a pertinent replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo and are likely to go to the next season without it.
However, Real Madrid's woes are unlikely to end. Their midfield lynchpin Luka Modric has been linked with a move away from Real Madrid, to Inter Milan, who are striving to bring back their long-lost former glory.
Modric has been crucial to Real Madrid last season. He played a massive role and commanded the play for Los Blancos from the middle of the park. If Modric leaves, it'd put Real Madrid in a fix.
So, without further ado, let's take a look at three players Real Madrid could sign if Modric decides to leave a club, where he has achieved everything there is to.
#3 Sergej Milinkovic-Savic
When Ronaldo left Real Madrid, everyone thought Perez would kick-start a new era at Real Madrid and he, indeed, has. But, quite surprisingly, he has not gone for a Galactico 2.0 at Madrid.
Instead, there has been a visible deviation from the club's basic principles. Their performance in the transfer market so far hints at a youthful-Real Madrid the coming season.
Hence, Savic could be a perfect replacement for Modric. The 23-year-old Serbian midfielder is yet to reach his prime but has already become a crucial cog at Lazio.
Since 2015, the lanky midfielder has made 122 appearances for Lazio and has scored 22 goals to his name. He, in the previous season, registered a 79% passing accuracy, made 2.6 shots per game, won 2.9 aerial duels per game, which are impressive.
His defensive contributions are also not meager. He made 1.6 tackles per game, 0.9 interceptions and clearances per game for Lazio in the Serie A last season.
Just like Modric, he can also play on a multitude of positions, as a defensive midfielder, central midfielder as well as an attacking midfielder.
Savic is capable of getting the better of the opponents during aerial duels as well as could use physicality while defending. This would give another dimension to Real Madrid's midfield. The versatility of this player could be utilized during transitions.
He could join Casemiro in the double pivot while defending and could join Kroos in the midfield while Real Madrid attack.
#2 Marco Verratti
Italian midfielder Marco Verratti has already established as one of the finest midfielders of this time. Verratti has impressed one and all with his performances for Paris Sent Germain.
A PSG player since 2012, Verratti has never shied away from delivering quality and spectacular football. However, if he needs to make it bigger and go on in the history books as one of the best midfield wizards ever witnessed, he certainly needs to move away from Paris Sent Germain and Ligue 1.
He registered a 91.2% passing accuracy for PSG last season in the Ligue 1. He also managed to make 92.7 passes a game and 1.3 key passes.
He is also good at defending. The Italian made 2.3 tackles per game last season and was able to make 1.2 interceptions per game.
A move to Real Madrid would benefit both parties. With Modric highly slated to leave Real Madrid, they could sign an equally talented midfielder in Verratti. For Marco, Real Madrid would be a destination where he could achieve bigger things.
A pacey and creative midfielder, Verratti is adept at dribbling and is known for his vision and pinpoint supplies. He is also capable of dictating the game from the middle of the park and certainly has the ability to dominate possession.
#1 Miralem Pjanic
A commanding force in Juventus' midfield, Miralem Pjanic has been crucial to whatever the Old Lady has done since 2016.
The Bosnia and Herzegovina midfielder has it in him to make it big with Real Madrid in the La Liga and in Europe. A lynchpin, Pjanic has orchestrated the play for Juventus the previous season.
He was efficient at it and even contributed defensively to the team. Just like Modric, he can also play in various positions.
He doesn't possess the incredible speed or dribbling ability, but certainly has the necessary attributes needed to command and dictate a game.
He made 44 appearances for Juventus last season and bagged 7 goals to his name. He also has an impressive 90.2% passing accuracy. He contributed 1.9 key passes per game and had an average of 66.7 passes a game.
At defence, he made 1.2 tackles, 2 interceptions, 0.8 clearances a game, which are decent statistics, given Pjanic primarily plies his trade as a central midfielder.
Who do you think would be an ideal replacement for Modric? Sound off your opinions in the comments section below!
