Real Madrid's midfield search continues after Rodri miss
Real Madrid still lack a tempo-controlling midfielder following Toni Kroos' retirement, despite signing Bernardo Silva this summer.
Image generated with Gemini
The summer transfer window has presented a significant tactical challenge for Real Madrid. Despite investing 240 million euros on six new signings, the club has yet to resolve the void left by Toni Kroos’ retirement in 2024—a lack of a tempo-setting midfielder capable of dictating matches.
The primary target was Rodri, but the Spain captain opted for a move to fierce rivals Barcelona. While manager Jose Mourinho secured the arrival of Bernardo Silva from Manchester City, the Portuguese playmaker is not the defensive-minded controller that the team currently lacks.
This persistent issue has been flagged by multiple former coaches, including Carlo Ancelotti and Xabi Alonso, who both emphasized the need for a specific profile to strengthen the center of the pitch. Though the current squad is deep with midfield talent, none have displayed the consistent ability to manage game flow as needed.
For now, the club maintains that no further signings will be made unless there are departures from the 25-man squad. However, data-driven analysis suggests that if Madrid were to return to the market, profiles such as Aleksandar Pavlovic of Bayern Munich or Aleix Garcia of Bayer Leverkusen could provide the composure and distribution the team is missing.