After over a week in the United States of America, Real Madrid have completed the third of their three scheduled friendly clashes.
As has been the norm in recent years, the attendance for Los Blancos’ games was through the roof and gave fans a chance to see their heroes up and close.
For the players and management as well, however, the past week has been invaluable.
With several changes to the squad that dominated Europe and Spain last season, Carlo Ancelotti got a chance to test his combinations first-hand and work out new formulae.
Moreover, it gave young talents the stage they required to put forth an audition to the management.
Madrid Universal brings you five takeaways from Real Madrid’s tour of the US.
Indifferent to results
Back-to-back defeats vs AC Milan and Barcelona are certainly not how the defending European champions would have liked to start the new season.
However, Ancelotti and his men are mature enough to maintain a perspective of the results and the context amidst which they arose.
Still rusty after the long hiatus and without some of the team’s most vital stars, Real Madrid’s slow start in the USA was not surprising.
In fact, both Ancelotti and Vinicius Jr. made it clear in their interviews recently that they would not read too much into the results but focus on the positive takeaways.
For what it’s worth, Los Blancos’ latest clash vs Chelsea showed the team back in full form and boasting chemistry across the field. With Kylian Mbappe, Dani Carvajal and the French contingent yet to join, the men in white look threatening.
Defensive takeaways
Real Madrid’s biggest concern heading into the 2024-25 campaign is the defensive resource pool.
With David Alaba injured and Nacho Fernandez no longer at the club, Ancelotti has only Eder Militao and Antonio Rudiger to count on in the department from last season’s squad.
All eyes, thus, were on the team’s young academy stars ahead of the US tour to see if any of them could make a strong impression and lay claim to being the fourth-choice centre-back.
Raul Asencio, who had minutes against Milan and Chelsea, did not put a foot wrong but also did not contribute a whole lot in terms of direct defensive actions.
Jacobo Ramon, meanwhile, had minutes in the ever-difficult El Clasico and held his nerve to show good maturity.
The most impressive of them, however, was 16-year-old Joan Martinez who enjoyed close to 80 minutes of action and recorded seven defensive actions in that duration.
Mario Martin’s maturity
While the competition in Real Madrid’s midfield is indeed unforgiving, young Mario Martin may well have done enough to make a case as the team’s backup pivot.
With Aurelien Tchouameni absent for the US trip, the youngster played 90 minutes in all three of Real Madrid’s games starting as the pivot.
The 20-year-old did look slightly lost in the final game but was largely inspiring, solid and defensively on point for Los Blancos.
A big takeaway from the tour, thus, is that Martin can provide cover for Aurelien Tchouameni next season, especially with the Frenchman likely to step into defence at times.
Arda Guler set for a big role
Arda Guler arrived at Real Madrid last summer but almost immediately saw himself ruled out through a knee injury. The rest of the season was largely forgettable for the midfield sensation.
Back to regular football at Euro 2024, Guler made the world take notice with his power-packed performances and thus commanded a regular spot in Ancelotti’s plans.
The teenager thus played 45 minutes against AC Milan starting as the attacking midfielder and delivered a stellar show both going forward and with his defensive inputs.
Guler was then rewarded with 90 minutes in El Clasico where he shone despite the team’s defeat as he racked up two key passes, created one big chance, and one successful dribble on the night.
With the UEFA Super Cup less than two weeks away, Guler thus makes a strong case to displace Jude Bellingham as Real Madrid’s attacking midfielder and it remains to be seen how Ancelotti manages his minutes.
The Brazilian contingent
With Kylian Mbappe not travelling to the US, Real Madrid’s attacking department was largely expected to revolve around the Brazilian contingent – Vinicius Jr., Rodrygo and Endrick.
Vini Jr returned to action in El Clasico, playing 33 minutes off the bench and instantly looked like the team’s best player. He followed that up with a wonderful assist against Chelsea and looks to be in fine form.
Rodrygo, meanwhile, only appeared in Los Blancos’ game against Chelsea last night, and like Vinicius, impressed with his form after a long break.
Real Madrid’s new signing Endrick, however, unsurprisingly has had his starting troubles. Playing for a club of such stature for the first time, the youngster appeared lost and slightly out of his depth.
The youngster only managed to string together nine and 12 passes respectively against Milan and Barcelona and was benched for the third game. His progression will be interesting to follow.