Copyright Yardbarker
Real Madrid had one of the worst defenses of any elite club in European football last season, and that unit was key to Carlo Ancelotti’s dismissal, Real’s failure to win any trophies, and four straight El Clasico defeats at the hands of Barcelona. This past summer transfer window, Real overhauled their defense, specifically signing Dean Huijsen and Alvaro Carreras as new players, with Huijsen immediately bolstering their defense alongside an even more important center back addition – a healthy Eder Militao. But Real Madrid could be preparing for one final tweak to make their defense better, repurposing a player who was once key to their solidity as a unit but discarded for his attacking deficiencies. According to a report from MARCA, new Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso is beginning to test out Ferland Mendy as a center back in training, as the left back has been returning to health but mostly discarded in favor of the more technical Carreras. That’s a wise decision, but Mendy is a lockdown defender who can bring some upside as a center back. Difficult to sell, Mendy’s position change could save his Real Madrid career, and fans have been wanting to see the Frenchman in central defense instead of just here and there.
