Real Madrid News
Toni Kroos lavishes praise on Real Madrid whizkid: “He’s so good”
Nico Paz has emerged as one of the most exciting talents to come out of the Real Madrid academy lately.
An attacking midfielder by trade, the youngster has starred for the Real Madrid youth sides in the UEFA Youth League as well as the domestic youth competitions, notably racking up six goals in total.
Although Paz is yet to make his senior debut for Real Madrid, he has been called up to train with the first team on several occasions while he has also been named in the matchday squad.
And, now, the 18-year-old Argentine prodigy earned praise from midfielder Toni Kroos as we approach the season’s end.
“This boy (Nico Paz) should train with us every day because he’s so good,” Kroos told MARCA in a recent interview.
This could be huge for Paz, who has been pushing for a place in the Real Madrid senior squad next season. The youngster, as mentioned earlier, has already performed brilliantly in domestic youth competitions, impressing onlookers with his technical prowess.
Although Real Madrid are poised to sign Jude Bellingham this coming summer, Paz’s ascension to the team could be beneficial for the club, especially with Kroos and Luka Modric likely to leave Santiago Bernabeu in 2024.
The presence of young players like Paz, therefore, could offer Carlo Ancelotti exciting alternatives who are more than capable of making an impact at the professional level.
It could also aid the player, giving him a platform to showcase his skills at the highest level of football. Paz, therefore, will be looking to perform well during the pre-season preparations for Real Madrid this coming summer.
His performances could go a long way in determining his fate in the Real Madrid senior setup. Apart from him, Sergio Arribas will also hope to seek a place in the first team, ahead of the coming season.
Bernardo Silva was one of Real Madrid’s headline signings last summer. The Portuguese midfielder arrived on a free transfer from Manchester City and appeared destined to become the creative successor to Toni Kroos and Luka Modric in the middle of the park.
Indeed, with the club having not signed a new central midfielder, many within Real Madrid saw the veteran star as a solution to the issue.
Manager Jose Mourinho made him a starter from the very beginning in pre-season, but not in his usual role on the right. Instead, he deployed his compatriot as a deep-lying playmaker in the midfield double pivot.
A change in circumstances
Silva failed to have the expected influence when operating in a deeper role in midfield in the chances he got.
Combined with the emergence of Arda Guler and Aurelien Tchouameni’s return to fitness, the Portuguese international has now lost his place in the starting line-up and dropped to the bench.
Bernardo’s situation became particularly striking against Villarreal this past Saturday at the Santiago Bernabeu, when he did not play a single minute.
Limited opportunities under Mourinho
Bernardo has played six matches for Real Madrid, starting three and coming on as a substitute in another three.
He did not feature against Villarreal or Elche, while his only appearance in the last three matches was a little over 10 minutes against Atletico Madrid. He was not used regularly by the Portugal national team during the international break either.
Across Real Madrid’s eight La Liga fixtures, Silva has accumulated just 282 minutes of playing time.
The Champions League now presents another opportunity for the former Manchester City captain, who has yet to make his European debut for Real Madrid this season.
He missed the match against Inter Milan because he was still serving a suspension carried over from his time at the Etihad Stadium last season.
It remains to be seen whether Mourinho will give him an opportunity against AS Roma in the coming week.
For now, the midfielder’s reduced playing time suggests that the Portuguese coach has lost some of his faith in a player who arrived with high expectations after leaving Manchester City.
