We’re at the business end of the La Liga campaign, and the competition at the summit couldn’t be more fierce.
Defending champions, Barcelona are trailing league leaders, Real Madrid, by four points with just three rounds of fixtures remaining in the season.
Los Blancos just need to win two of their final three games to become the champions of Spain for the first time in three seasons.
Those who have had the privileged of wearing the Royal White this season are only focused on the remaining matches. The loanees, on the other hand, are waiting in the wings to earn a callup, next season.
So, how have the Real Madrid loanees fared this season and what’s in store for them? Let’s find out.
Martin Odegaard (Real Sociedad)
The most promising name on the list of loanees, Martin Odegaard, has enjoyed an impressive campaign at Real Sociedad.
Primarily playing as an attacking midfielder, the Norwegian has pulled the strings from the middle of the pitch and has regularly popped up with goals, assists — 4 goals and 5 assists — and key passes.
Most Real Madrid fans want to see Odegaard back at the Santiago Bernabeu, but Zinedine Zidane is likely to extend his loan spell at Sociedad for one more season.
Dani Ceballos (Arsenal)
Spanish midfielder, Dani Ceballos, was loaned out to Premier League giants, Arsenal, at the start of the season.
He booked a spot in the team almost immediately after moving to the Emirates, but the performances haven’t really been up to the mark. Given the player’s skillset, Arsenal probably would benefit from an extension or even buyout, and Real Madrid are not likely to block the move.
Ceballos barely made any impact under Zidane, the last time out, and we don’t believe he has the Frenchman’s unwavering trust.
Sergio Reguilon (Sevilla)
Adventurous left-back, Sergio Reguilon, joined La Liga top-four contenders, Sevilla, at the start of the season on a season-long loan.
The Castilla graduate has been a mainstay at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium this season, emerging as one of the finest performers of the Andalucian outfit.
The 23-year-old, who has pitched in with a goal and 4 assists in 28 La Liga appearances, could be Marcelo’s ideal replacement. But, whether he’d want to play second fiddle to Ferland Mendy, is anybody’s guess at the moment.
Alvaro Odriozola (Bayern Munich)
Real Madrid signed right-back, Alvaro Odriozola, from Real Sociedad in the summer of 2018 for a sizable €40 million fee. Termed as one of the hottest prospects in La Liga, Odriozola was tipped to give Dani Carvajal a run for his money.
Sadly, he failed miserably at the task and was sent out on loan to Bayern Munich in January 2020. He ended the season with only three Bundesliga appearances for Bayern.
The departure of Achraf Hakimi has left Real Madrid vulnerable on the right, but we’re not sure whether Zidane would want to gamble on the young Spaniard.
Takefusa Kubo (Mallorca)
19-year-old Takefusa Kubo has been the brightest spot in the doom and gloom at Mallorca.
The Japanese right-winger, who has racked up 4 goals and 5 assists, has the quality to take on some of the best defenders in the league but is unlikely to get minutes under Zinedine Zidane next season. Instead, he is touted to join another La Liga side on loan, for the 2020-21 campaign.
Andriy Lunin (Oviedo)
Ukrainian shot-stopper, Andriy Lunin, initially joined Real Valladolid on loan last summer. After not making a single La Liga appearance for the club in four months, he was sent to the second division side, Real Oviedo.
He has kept 5 clean sheets in 17 appearances for the club. If Real Madrid end up sending Alphonse Areola back to Paris Saint-Germain, Lunin could return to the club to play second fiddle to Thibaut Courtois.
Other Real Madrid loanees
Jesus Vallejo, Borja Mayoral, Oscar Rodriguez, Jorge de Frutos, Luca Zidane, and Alberto Soro are also out on loan. But no one other than Oscar Rodriguez — 9 goals and 2 assists for Leganes — has managed to make the impact they were hoping for.
Sadly, given how stacked Real Madrid are in the middle of the park, even Oscar is unlikely to return to the Spanish capital next season.
Players who are plying their trade in the second division — Soro, Frutos, and Zidane — are not expected to return either. Vallejo has only made nine appearances for Granada in La Liga while Mayoral has been inconsistent in front of goal for Levante.Â
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