After missing out on Rodri, the Madrid press has begun to talk about other names who could enter Real Madrid’s plans, with Jose Felix Diaz, editor-in-chief of the newspaper “AS”, pointing to names such as Ayoub Bouaddi, Adam Wharton and Kees Smit.
There is also talk of Mourinho’s desire to sign a left-sided defender. Bastoni is the target, and a player of that quality could give Real Madrid’s defence its final shape.
Here, in my opinion, lies a very positive point: Bastoni would be an excellent signing for Real Madrid, even if he is not the midfielder the team is looking for.
He does not only give you a strong defender in the back line. He also gives you a player capable of contributing to the build-up play.
When you have the ability to carry the ball from the back and advance with it, then break the opponent’s lines with a pass, you reduce part of the pressure placed on the midfielders.
His presence could make playing out from the back more flexible, and give the midfielders and wingers greater freedom.
That could allow a player like Bernardo Silva or Arda Guler to take on greater roles in creating play from deep, instead of loading either of them with all the responsibilities of building the attack and forcing him to drop back into deeper areas excessively.
There is a problem, though: Bastoni is no replacement for Rodri, and it is a difference Real Madrid must not lose sight of.
Signing a top defender who is good at playing out with the ball will not automatically solve the problem of controlling midfield.
It will make the team better in other areas, certainly, but it does not provide the complete solution to the problem that Rodri would have addressed.