What’s the story?
Real Madrid have accepted a €60 million bid for youngster Marcos Llorente, according to reports in Spain. The on-loan Alaves midfielder has played 26 games in the La Liga and has garnered a lot of eyeballs for his solid performances from all around Europe.
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In case you didn’t know..
Marcos Llorente, a Real Madrid academy graduate, is on a one-year loan to Alaves and has impressed so far this term. A defensive midfielder by trade, he breaks the play up very well, and has an eye for a forward pass.
Tenacity is perhaps his biggest quality. The 22-year-old’s tall stature and his ability to play pinpoint long balls have earned him comparisons with Real Madrid and Liverpool legend Xabi Alonso.
The heart of the matter
Despite his obvious talent, he has three world class midfielders ahead of him in the Real Madrid team in Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, and Casemiro. The midfielder's camp is unsure of how Zinedine Zidane rates him, given he was sent on loan early this season.
A switch to PSG would be perfect for the midfielder, with Marco Veratti likely to leave at the end of the season. The Bernabéu youth product will be the perfect long-term replacement for the Italian at Paris, playing beside the likes of Blaise Matuidi and Adrien Rabiot.
What’s Next?
It was reported that Zinedine Zidane after taking over from Rafa Benitez as manager of Real Madrid, stopped calling Llorente to train with the first team. Given his obvious talent, it is quite the surprising decision.
With Real Madrid looking to get midfield re-enforcements in the summer, with the likes of Marco Veratti and Thiago linked, it would perhaps be in the midfielder’s best interest to try and make a career far from Real Madrid.
Author’s Note
A €60 million bid for an uncapped (internationally) 22-year-old might be too much to turn down for Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez. Given that the way to the first team might truly be blocked, he might be tempted to make the move on a personal level as well.
There is no doubting the fact that he is very talented, but with the experience, he has as a first team player, the price tag may weigh heavy on his shoulders.
