The start of a new year is usually full of hope and excitement. This is no different when it comes to football, as new talent could emerge or current players could just drastically improve their form and find their moment. With that in mind, here are three Real Madrid players to keep an eye on in 2017.
1 Jesús Vallejo
The 19-year-old made a move to Real Madrid in 2015 but stayed on loan in the club that gave him everything, Real Zaragoza. He’s currently on loan at Eintracht Frankfurt and starting games regularly. The center back is making a name for himself. Other clubs in Europe have taken notice, and that’s always a very good sign.
Pepe will be 34 years old in February and his contract extension doesn’t seem likely to happen. While he has been an essential part of this club for almost a decade now, it’s the right time to pass the torch. Vallejo’s odds of joining the first team this summer are very high, regardless of what happens to the Portuguese.
Captain Sergio Ramos is aging as well, but his true Madridista philosophy and nature will keep him going for long. Having Vallejo study under him would set him up for a very promising stay at the Santiago Bernabéu. In just a few months we’ll probably see him wearing the white shirt.
2 Mateo Kovačić
The Croatian was a request from former boss Rafa Benítez. While it seemed like a good idea at the time, he failed to set himself apart and threaten the starting midfielders. Although it took some time, current coach Zinedine Zidane started giving him more and more opportunities.
When Luka Modrić and Casemiro were injured earlier this season, he really had the chance he had been waiting for. On top of that, he not only played regularly, but he also managed to be consistently amongst the top performers. His fine outings in the 0-3 win against Atlético Madrid and the tie at the Camp Nou convinced most people of his potential.
Now with Casemiro recovered, Zizou seems to have forgotten what the #16 contributed during those difficult times. If he stays strong mentally and has a fighting nature, it’s quite possible he’ll regain more regular starting roles. Unlike James, Isco or Asensio, he actually provides more of a balance between attacking and defending.
3 Álvaro Morata
Yes, he’s proven to the entire continent what he’s capable of, yet he hasn’t really been allowed to have a bigger role. Karim Benzema has usually ended up being all the coaches’ favorite choice. However, his form has been erratic for most of the season. During those low moments, Morata shined with important goals.
Rotating seems to be a top priority for Zidane and Morata is the top attacking replacement at the moment. Both Lucas Vázquez and Gareth Bale are out and it’s the perfect moment for him to remind the world of his abilities. Let’s not forget this is a man who kept Real out of a second Champions League final in a row.
The Spanish striker doesn’t seem like the giving up type, meaning he will continue to wait for his moments and do the best he can. He has what it takes to be the starting #9 and that’s why this could be the year Los Blancos’ finally recognize the type of man they have with them.
