For almost his entire stint at Real Madrid, Toni Kroos was the set-piece specialist for the team when it came to corner kicks.
With his retirement, the Merengues are now looking for a new player to take over the responsibilities of being the primary corner-kick tacker for the team for the upcoming season.
Five options being considered
MARCA now reports that the Real Madrid coaching staff is considering as many as five possible options to take over the corner-kick duties for the upcoming season.
New club captain Luka Modric is one of the options being looked at by the coaches, given that he is blessed with a unique ball-striking ability.
The Croatian used to be the second-in-line behind Kroos on corner duties in the past and will likely take over the mantle when on the field.
Another name very much in consideration is teenage sensation Arda Guler. The 19-year-old showed his capabilities from corners for Turkey at the UEFA Euro 2024 and assisted Nico Paz from a set-piece against Barcelona recently.
While he can be a potent weapon, Guler’s place in the team is not guaranteed, and as such it creates some doubts.
Federico Valverde, the man who took over Kroos’ No. 8 shirt, could also be ready to replace him as the primary corner-kick taker at Real Madrid.
The Uruguayan has an excellent long ball and, although the coach likes to position him on the edge of the box to rely on his powerful shot and to avoid dangerous counter-attacks, he is being considered for the role.
Jude Bellingham is another option that the staff is looking at, although he appears to be an outside bet, considering that he would be more dangerous attacking set-pieces.
Another option for the coaching staff is David Alaba, who has been injured since last December. The Austrian has showcased his set-piece prowess in the past, although he must first recover from his injury woes.