Colosal.
Thats quite an adequate word to use whenever referring to SPECIAL players like Isco (Francisco Roman Alarcon Suarez) or Raphael Varane.
Whether it be because of their playing abilities, because of how well they play, or because of their superb performances against top teams, these two YOUNG players offer so much to their teams, and to those who support them.
Hope, Dreams, Visions of Grandeur, and even Nightmares to the opposite team and THEIR followers....
The effect that the magic from players like these can produce is breathtaking.
Colosal.
Yet it is something Real Madrid as a club, or a fan base, hasn't really been able to enjoy as of late.
During the last 10 years ( Perez Era), Madrid hasn't really experienced the presence of a PRODIGY (much less prodigies...).
Madrid have recently gone more towards buying experienced talent such as Cristiano Ronaldo or Kaka rather than putting trust into young promising talent.
Some "La Fabrica" ( Youth Academy) talents such as Juan Mata and Roberto Soldado have been misused, others like Marcos Alonso or Ruben De La Red have either been stopped in their progress to the first team by accidents or permanent retirements due to health risks, and outside of Mesut Ozil and Sergio Ramos i cant really think of a young Prodigy type player joining Madrid in the last 10 years.
Well it very well may be that the time for that to change DRASTICALLY has finally arrived.
During the past two seasons, there have been glimpses of a possible "youth revolution" in Madrid, and with the Apparent arrival of Isco, lets go over some of the exciting youth prospects for Real Madrid.
Starting with Raphael Varane.
In the summer of 2011, Raphael Varane was purchased by Real Madrid for a transfer fee calculated to be worth around 10 million euros. A player recommended by Zidane, at first most fans didn't really know what to make of his purchase but as time went by, so did the accolades placed by those near him.
Frank Leboeuf ( Former French defender for the French National Team) among others, started making comparisons between him and Fernando Hierro ( Legendary Madrid Centre Back), while team Comrades like Pepe, Mourinho, and Zidane, threw bucket loads of praise on him because of his performances on the training ground and on "the pitch".
As time went by, he showed clear signs of being a very clean, focused, and most of all, talented young player, and the road to stardom finally culminated earlier this year as Varane would go on to score two goals against FC Barcelona, accompanied with amazing performances against players like Gerard Pique, Lionel Messi, and Cesc Fabregas, to help eliminate Fc Barcelona from the 12/13 Copa Del Rey.
Because of his consistently high performances against all kinds of competition, by season's end, Varane looked like an undisputed starter for Madrid!
La Fabrica hasn't stayed quiet either.
Since at least the 2010/2011 season, things were really starting to point to La Fabrica producing (at the very least) a couple of Special Talents worthy of possible first team use, and in 11/12 those names finally made them selves noticed in special ways. They were Alvaro Morata, Jese Rodriguez, and Daniel Carvajal.
The trio helped Real Madrid Castilla ( Refer to my "La Fabrica" Post to the right) move from Segunda B, to Segunda, helping Madrid's highest level youth team regain their position in Spain's 2nd tier league.
The noteworthy performances of the trio, and specially of Daniel Carvajal led to much speculation about their future and about whether they were to be loaned out soon, or given more time in the youth team to see if they could be part of the first team some day soon.
At the start of the 12/13 season, Daniel Carvajal was sold to Bayer Leverkusen with a (buy back clause), permitting madrid to bring back Daniel to Real Madrid if he showed his worth, and show his worth he did. Bild, which is one of Germany's premier sports papers, ranked Daniel as the best Right Back of the 12/13 season ( in his first year of top flight football!).
Jese Rodriguez also showed his worth as he toppled Emilio Butragueno's record of goals for the Castilla team in a Season, and won the Golden Boot in the U-19 European Championships, for spain. His incredibly fast way of playing the game, along with his individual style have led to comparisons between him and Cristiano Ronaldo, and strangely enough, at the same age they both had around the same amount of hype behind them. Is Jese capable of reaching similar heights? Only time will tell.
Alvaro Morata was the third piece in the puzzle, as he got to play for Madrid's first team on several occasions, his highlight coming in when he assisted Karim Benzema for an early goal against Fc Barcelona in Real's home clash against the catalans earlier this year. He culminated his great efforts by winning the golden boot for the spanish national team during the U-21 european championships.
The three young players showed their worth and have given the Madrid fan base hope for the future. The general idea at this point is that considering that Alvaro Arbeloa is now in decline as an RB, and that Gonzalo Higuain is leaving, AND that they are all great talents, they are all expected to star for the first team.
Morata is expected to serve as 2nd striker, taking over Gonzalo Higuain.
Jese is expected to be a substitute with a role like Jose Callejon's for now.
And Daniel Carvajal is expected to be the starting right back, as he is quite possibly the best young right back in the world.
The hope is there. They are Jewels.
Morata is the best striker to come out of La Fabrica after Roberto Soldado and Alvaro Negredo who have both shared success in La Liga and the Spanish National Team.
He is young enough and has the talent to realistically be a very good choice as back up striker in the near future. Whether he can reach very high heights, only time will tell, but personally i feel like he could reach ( at the very least) the height that players like Soldado, Negredo, or Fernando Llorente have all reached as spanish strikers over the last few years. Morata has potential, and albeit probably not the next Raul in either quality or style, i have no doubt he can be a worthy player for Real Madrid and the Spanish National Team someday soon.
Finally, Jese has been scintillating and keeps scoring left and right for his Spanish National "U" teams and Cantera. Legendary players like Zidane and Butragueno have recommended him as a bright star, and he will most probably, (rightfully so) join Real Madrid's first team this season.
At worst, Both Morata and Jese would have to be sold with a buy back option to Other capable teams like with Carvajal, but if anything, the news are that the club is behind them 100 percent( In large part due to Zidane which is an advisor to Perez, as Perez has always been an imbecile with the Cantera), and i doubt the new manager, Carlo Ancelotti will change that.
Oh But this Does not End here...No No No.
According to the some of the Most reliable Spanish Papers sources such as Cadena Ser, As, and Interconomia, Isco (21 Y.O.) will soon be announced as a Real Madrid player, after what had seemed like a battle for the player between Manchester City and Real Madrid.
What this player brings to the table is exquisite. His Dribbling, Passing, Vision, and Quality can make you piss your pants and rip holes in your under wear as if you were watching the 2nd coming of Iniesta. Which you very might well be. Isco was awarded the 2012 Golden Boy award earlier this year, giving him the honor of being ranked as the top (Under 21 years of age) player in europe.
He is the future of the Spanish Midfield. In a few years you might be remembering the legends that are Xavi, Xabi Alonso, and Andres Iniesta, but the young trio of Illaramendi, Thiago, and Isco are the future. And out of all of them, Isco might be the most talented, just as is the case with Iniesta today.
Having Isco Join Madrid is a beauty of a thought, and as controversial as it may sound, if he goes against Mesut Ozil for the starting position, i would have no doubt in seeing a lad like Isco possibly take the spot away from the german midfielder, as Ozil is not nearly as resourceful as Isco is. Isco can player farther up the midfield, just like Iniesta, something that in my opinion would harm Ozil's chances against a player like Isco because of the fact that Whether our Managers in the future are men like Ancelotti, Laudrup, or even Klopp, you can do much more with a talent like Isco in your team.
But if you have both...
The youth prospects still don't end with Isco though!
Look at the player to the right of that picture just below you.
Does his body build and type look familiar to you?
It is one very smilar to many "recent" midfield greats such as Michael Essien, Yaya Toure, Claude Makalele, and a few others.
He is simply, quite possibly the next great defensive midfielder.
Geofrey Kondogbia.
He is just 20 Years old and is being seriously linked to Real Madrid.
Under my judgement, from what i have seen of him in Sevilla, he has great strength, and his height and strength help him with his composure. He has to work on his passing skills in general, specially when under pressure. He is still a bit of a raw talent. Regardless, i really do think that if we buy him he could be a good purchase. Worst case scenario i would still see him surpass someone like Sami Khedira in terms of quality.
Rumors are that Madrid are close to buying him and it will be up to Carlo Ancelotti, whether he stays in Sevilla for one more year for more chance to progress ( similar to Daniel Carvajal) or he joins the Real Madrid first team. If Carlo Ancelotti decides to leave him in Sevilla for one more year, Madrid would ideally still go after a DM this year. Possibly Danielle De Rossi....But thats another article lol.
Pictures like the one above, drive Real Madrid.
As i have already stated, Madrid are currently linked with Many youth players that could lead to a very successful present and future.
And there are some special reasons all of these players get me SPECIALLY excited.
When i make comparisons between players like Kondogbia and Yaya Toure, and Isco and Iniesta, and Varane and Fernando Hierro, dont be mistaken into thinking that im 100 percent sure that the young players in the discussion will reach those heights.
The Comparison i make are well asserted ones based on potential shown and playing style.
Having said that, All of the players mentioned get me excited mainly because.
1. I have a personal pet peeve where i like to think of Real Madrid AFTER 2017. I will soon write an article about what the future of Real Madrid looks like in terms of president, but one thing is for certain.
This is Perez's last reign as president. He wont go for another term after 2017 which is when his Time ends.
Eugenio Martinez Bravo, and a Project led by Real Madrid legends such as Sanchis and Hierro are the two "Favorite" ideas that are mainly believed to be the favorites to become the next leaders of Madrid.
Bottom line being is that they promise to correct everything Perez has done wrong with the club, absolutely everything, and they prove their trust worthiness with their quite clear public disapproval of Perez. There is a nice future to look at for Madrid in my eyes, and when i see players like Kondogbia, Carvajal, Varane, Jese, Morata, and Isco, im thinking of our very possible future and a smile comes to my face.
By 2017 None of those players will be more than 25 years old.
Kondogbia will be 24
Carvajal - 25
Varane -24
Jese- 24
Morata - 25
Isco -25
I can think of a Great Future with Great young players leading into their prime, and as the great Brazilian Formula One driver, Ayrton Senna once said..."That makes me happy".
With these young players we could have this new generation's Makalele, Salgado, Hierro, Cristiano Ronaldo, Morientes, and Zidane ( All great Real Madrid players at some point).
Whether they will all reach the same level, i dont know, but i believe they can reach great levels, due to their potential, and hopefully years from now, we can look the youth of the day again, and wonder if our youth can some day become Carvajals, or Varanes, Or Moratas for Real Madrid.
Hopefully with these players we can move towards being a club where more emphasis is put into youth, (as many of our potential future presidents claim for) and so do most of the fans.
All these players Represent Hope, Dreams, and a Bright Future.
Keep your minds and eyes open, as we Hope to honor and respect the past, Dream to succeed, and look into the future with joy.
To Our Youth.
To Our Club.
and To Us...
Hala Madrid!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment