Will Takefusa Kubo be back at Real Madrid next season?

Real Madrid know how to work the loan market better than any other club in Europe. This season saw Los Blancos send a number of young players out on loan to gain first team experience, continuing a trend that has seen the Santiago Bernabeu outfit replenish their squad every summer over a number of years.

Martin Odegaard joined Real Sociedad on a two-season loan last summer, with the Norwegian midfielder enjoying a hugely successful campaign. Odegaard was one of the best players in La Liga over the 2019/20 campaign, impressing to such an extent that many predict Real Madrid will cut short his original loan agreement to recall him to the Spanish capital next season.

Indeed, the 21-year-old looks to be the natural heir to Luka Modric and with the Croatian out of contract next summer the transition between the two could happen sooner rather than later. Odegaard very much looks destined to become the beating heart of Real Madrid’s midfield at some point in the near future.

Then there’s Achraf Hakimi, the Moroccan full back who was loaned out to Borussia Dortmund for two seasons in the summer of 2018. In the Bundesliga, the young full back thrived, leading to Inter paying €40 million for him earlier this month. Some believe Zinedine Zidane should have found a place for Hakimi in his Real Madrid squad, but the club still turned a profit from their decision to sell him on.

So what does the future hold for Takefusa Kubo, the Japanese youngster who has spent the season on loan at Real Mallorca? Previously on the books of Barcelona, Kubo has caught the eye recently, leading to a discussion over how Zidane will ultimately integrate him into the squad at the Santiago Bernabeu.

It seems likely the 19-year-old will be loaned out again next season, but the standard of his performances for Real Mallorca suggest he would take a return to his parent club for the 2020/21 campaign in his stride. This is a player with incredible potential, seemingly destined to reach the top of the sport at some point in the future.

Of course, the argument could be made that Kubo would be better off playing for a team where he would be guaranteed first team football. Competition is stiff at Real Madrid for attacking places at this moment. But the best players thrive in the toughest environments.

How well do you know European Football? Want to challenge the best Spanish Fantasy Managers? Play www.liga-fantasy.com now.

La Liga: Best 11 Players of the Weekend: Week 24

Real Madrid were shocked as they could draw at home against Celta Vigo 2-2. With Barcelona getting past Getafe with a 2-1 win it means that Barca are just one point behind Madrid with 14 games left to play. From the top 6 teams only two won in Barcelona and Villarreal and that has also made Champions League finishing positions more open and interesting.

Let’s take a look below at who performed the best this past weekend.

Formation: 4-4-2

Goalkeeper: Joel Robles- Real Betis 7pts

Only two goalkeepers in La Liga earned 7 points and it happened in the same match as Leganes took on Real Betis. The game ended 0-0 but Joel Robles deserves this one being the away goalkeeper and Levante had 11 goal attempts.

Defender: Oier Mate- Osasuna 8pts

It was a perfect match for Oier Mate who not only kept a clean sheet for his club but also scored the only goal and winner as Osasuna beat Athletic Bilbao 1-0 away from home.

Defender: David Garcia- Osasuna 5pts

Garcia alongside his team mater Oier Mate helped to keep a clean sheet away from home and earned 5 points. That is his 7th of the season where he has helped his club.

Defender: Aissa Mandi- Real Betis 5pts

Aissa Mandi has been good at collecting yellow cards which has hampered his points total, but at the weekend he did a perfect job for Real Betis and he has helped the club keep 4 clean sheets this season.

Defender: Martin Valjent- Real Mallorca 

Real Mallorca beat Alaves 1-0 and Valjent was a big part of that success and earning 3 points in the heart of defence. He has helped to keep 4 clean sheets this season.

Midfielder: Suso- Sevilla 6pts

Suso rescued a point for Sevilla who were losing 2-1 at home to Espanyol but with just minutes left Suso was able to get a very important goal for the home side. It was only his 2nd goal of the season but such an important one.

Midfielder: Toni Kroos- Real Madrid 4pts

It was a disappointing result at the weekend for Real Madrid who could only draw 2-2 at home to Celta Vigo. But Toni Kroos put in a good shift at home and also scored a goal to put his team back in the game after they conceded first.

Midfielder: Moises Gomez- Villarreal 4pts

Moises Gomez got the winning goal as his side Villarreal beat Levante 2-1 in a very close game. He has been involved in 7 goals this season and that was his 3rd of the season.

Midfielder: Thomas Partey- Atletico Madrid 4pts

Thomas scored only his 2nd goal of the season to help Atletico draw 2-2 with Valencia in an entertaining draw. The league is over for the club but they need to maintain a Champions League berth.

Striker: Gerard Moreno- Villarreal 6pts

Gerard Moreno had a brilliant game for Villarreal as he opened the scoring and then set up the winner as his side won 2-1. Moreno has scored 10 goals this season and created 3 further goals.

Striker: Lucas Ocampos- Sevilla 6pts

Lucas Ocampos also earned 6 points and did the same job as Moreno scoring his teams first goal and then setting up the assist for the 2nd as Sevilla drew 2-2. It was Ocampos’ 7th goal of the season.

How well do you know European Football? Want to challenge the best Spanish Fantasy Managers? Play www.liga-fantasy.com now.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Granada playing catch up with promotion rivals

Granada

Despite the Segunda Division season extending into June 2019, attention will quickly turn to the 2019-20 La Liga campaign, with the three newly promoted sides.

Osasuna won the second tier title, with an eight point advantage over Granada, with both sides returning to the top of the Spanish football pyramid for the first time since 2017.

Real Mallorca’s dramatic play-off final win over Deportivo la Coruna brings to end an a six-year absence from La Liga for the Balearic side.

Continue reading