His signing was seen by many as a sign that Karim Benzema would be phased out of the Real Madrid starting lineup this season, but Luka Jovic hasn’t come close to having that sort of impact since arriving at the Santiago Bernabeu last summer. Benzema certainly hasn’t been phased out of the lineup.
In fact, the French striker has never been as important a figure as he is now, finishing as Real Madrid’s top scorer for the 2019/20 season. Jovic, on the other hand, started just four La Liga matches, scoring only twice. The Serbian centre forward was a peripheral figure for the majority of the title-winning campaign.
This has led to speculation that Jovic could leave the Santiago Bernabeu this summer having failed to make an impression in the Spanish capital. Big money signings aren’t often given much time to prove themselves at Real Madrid and Jovic want be kept around until he feels comfortable. Just ask Alvaro Morata.
A switch to the Premier League has been mooted, with Arsenal, Everton and Wolves all mentioned as potential destinations for Jovic. He has become a victim of circumstance at Real Madrid and still has remarkable potential. The Serbian just needs the right club and the right environment to thrive.
At Eintracht Frankfurt last season, Jovic flourished in a front two. At Real Madrid, he has been asked to lead the line on his own or fit into a 4-3-3 formation. Those are roles that don’t suit him. This is why a move to somewhere like Wolves, where he could feasibly play alongside Diogo Jota as a replacement for Raul Jimenez, might appeal Jovic. He could also play alongside Dominic Calvert-Lewin up front for Everton.
“The feelings are good, despite the absences,” Zinedine Zidane insisted when asked to provide an update on Jovic’s status at Real Madrid earlier this year. “There’s a very big squad, and the rest are here to respond. Jovic is an obvious option. He is the future. He has to be calm. He is learning. He’s a boy who wants to learn a lot. He’s very good. He’ll get a lot of goals. We’ve backed him, and you have to be calm with him.”
For how much longer will they continue to back him, though? And even if they do, would Jovic be better off elsewhere? It appears the Serbian is already nearing a crossroads in his Real Madrid career.
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