Madrid corrects its mistake: looking for an Argentine playmaker to help the club win

There was a time not too long ago when Real Madrid was plagued by playmakers . This talented player, with a good foot, excellent dribbling skills, and a great ability to see that final pass between the lines, was the hallmark of the Real Madrid style, but due to the needs of the team, many of them were forced to play in a different position to fit into the starting eleven. Now, just a few years later, Madrid is trying to correct its course due to his absence .

Without going any further, in the 2020-21 season, the Whites had players like Isco and Hazard , who could perfectly play that role, as well as others like Asensio, Vinícius and Rodrygo who were wingers, but could play behind the striker. And, as if that were not enough, Madrid had others on loan like Odegaard, Kubo, Brahim, Bale and Reinier . In other words, an overabundance of a profile that, a few seasons later, is not seen in excess within the team .

With the change in formation to 4-3-3 in recent years, the midfield was occupied by players with a different profile, with greater distribution and primarily playmaking abilities . And Madrid didn't do badly. until Toni Kroos and Luka Modric ran out of gas . We've seen this season that without a player capable of connecting the ball out with the attack , no matter how good your goalscorers are, the team falls apart and suffers in the defensive zone.

There's an imminent paradigm shift in the Real Madrid midfield, where talented players have been sidelined in favor of more physical ones . But neither Eduardo Camavinga , nor Aurélien Tchoauméni , nor Fede Valverde have managed to bring quality to these defense-attack transitions. Only a few flashes of light from Dani Ceballos or Arda Güler , when they've played centrally, have sparked new growth for Madrid. But it's not enough to compete for the three big-game titles against the big players in the long term.

That's why Madrid has launched a search for an attacking midfielder who can give the team what it hasn't had throughout last season. That image of Vitinha starting the play in his own area and finishing with the pass to Doué for PSG's third goal in the Champions League final is what the team needs: a player who wants the ball, who doesn't let it burn, who organizes the team with the ball , and, above all, who connects lines with his passes.

That's where the Madrid casting process has begun, with names like the Portuguese himself, Nicolò Barella, Tijjani Reijnders, Florian Wirtz, Angelo Stiller , and the two players who are starting to carry the most weight: Franco Mastantuono and Nico Paz . Both are young, Argentinian players who enjoy handling the ball and have proven talent despite their age. One is very popular; the other is a homegrown player and just needed to be brought back. And Madrid hasn't lost sight of either of them .

Looking at Madrid's current squad, aside from the 3-2-4-1 that Xabi Alonso usually plays with , the key piece he still lacks is one of those attacking playmakers. It's clear that one of those positions will be occupied by Jude Bellingham , but there's no other pure profile who plays in that position. And, based on what has been shown this year, the Englishman isn't a player who excels at connecting between the lines , but rather in the final yards, especially when coming forward from the back.

With Álvaro Carreras on the verge of leaving to reinforce the left flank , Madrid's next move will be in midfield. The Whites absolutely need a player who can command the team with the ball at his feet. Güler could also be a great option, but he needs matches to fully adapt to this new position on the pitch. And Madrid has put Argentina on the map: Mastantuono or Nico, that is the question . It seems that if one arrives, the other won't.