Xabi, Khedira, Casemiro, Kroos and Illarra...

It's a strange situation: Xabi Alonso leaves instead of Sami Khedira and now the German is injured. Not seriously, but for a reasonable while. Furthermore, with differing reports as to where and when the injury was sustained from the German federation and Real Madrid's medical staff. In any case it a further piece missing from area of the pitch that needs to be reconstructed, a worrying piece of news when it is taken into account that Madrid's next match is against Atlético. Football is mischievous and seems to take pleasure in playing games like this. Only last night I saw a wonderful piece of analysis on the television detailing the fine performance, in blocking and creating, of Xabi Alonso on his Bayern debut.

This case of the midfielders is the paradigm of the line of improvisation that Madrid follows. A year ago Illarramendi was signed, for a vast sum of money, and Casemiro was brought into the first team from Castilla. Xabi Alonso had a year left on his contract and had not renewed. It was to be supposed that Illarramendi would get on the job training at Alonso's side. But then Alonso signed on for another two seasons. At the same time, Illarramendi began to display signs of uncertainty. Loaning him out seemed advisable, so that he could mature as a player, but this season it was Casemiro, who proved to be more reliable on the rare occasions he was used, who has departed. He is now at Porto, and playing well.

This summer Madrid signed Toni Kroos. The idea was to ease the wage bill by ushering Khedira to the door, but he preferred to see out the remaining year of his contact and leave as a free agent next summer. And without any warning it was Alonso, the cornerstone of the team, who was allowed to leave despite signing a new contract recently. Two days before his departure he was at the ceremony to unveil Madrid's new dragon-motif shirt, alongside Bale, James, Casillas and Marcelo. It was clear that he was in the club's plans, as a starting 11 player and as a symbol of Madridismo. But suddenly he was gone, sold for a song to Munich. And now Khedira is injured. Kroos and Illarramendi remain, the former still seeking his place in the midfield confusion and the latter more insecure than ever.

from Últimas noticias | Diario AS http://ift.tt/1ulVXfX

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