While Real Madrid are looking to bring in some high profile players to strengthen their squad, the scouts must also keep their search on for the future stars. Apparently, they have identified one such man and hope to bring him to the Spanish capital this summer.
Calciomercato (as reported by Marca) states that Real Madrid are in contention to sign Benfica starlet Florentino Luis. Real Betis are also interested in the services of the youngster.
Who is Florentino Luis?
The Portuguese joined Benfica at a very early age and graduated from the youth set-up into the reserves team in 2016. After plying his trade for the B team for three years, Luis was integrated into the first squad in 2019 and so far has played in 15 league matches for the side.
Primarily a central midfielder, he can also play in the defensive midfield position and so far has done brilliantly in both areas. The biggest asset of any player who operates at the centre of the pitch is his passing ability as he should have the vision to dictate the terms of the game. In this respect, it has to be mentioned here that this season Luis has completed 90% of his total passes, an exceptional figure considering his age.
His defensive contributions are breathtaking as statistically, he can compete with the best midfielders of the world. This term he has racked up 2.9 tackles and 4.1 interceptions per game. What makes him such an all-round midfielder is his ability to help the side in the attacking department by making an incisive pass which in turn makes the passage of the forwards into the final third a lot smoother. He also has a knack of delivering the long balls, and in a team like Real Madrid, this quality could open up new avenues for the manager.
What would be his role at Real Madrid?
At Los Blancos, Luis would undoubtedly be placed on the bench at the moment, providing him with the opportunity to learn the tricks of the trade from players like Modric and Kroos. However, the Croatia international is 34-years-old, and his best days are behind him. Toni Kroos can also be called a veteran, and within a couple of years, his performances would be on a declining curve. In this situation, Zidane needs reinforcements in midfield, and Luis can certainly be a long term prospect for the club.
The starlet already has qualities that make him an ideal man to call the shots in the midfield for his side, and if he hones his skills up a notch in the coming years, he could be the midfield general for Zidane’s team for a long time to come. Although, for that to happen, the Spanish giants must first beat their competitors in securing the signature of the young gun.
Stats from Whoscored.
