According to a recent report by AS, Real Madrid are keeping a keen eye on AS Monaco defender Benoît Badiashile this summer. The same source has also mentioned that the French centre-back has been dubbed as the ‘new Raphael Varane’ with Los Blancos keeping tabs on his progress at the Stade Louis II ahead of a potential move during the summer transfer period.
Badiashile’s Impressive Rise In French Football
The Limoges-born talent has enjoyed an impressive season at Monaco after producing a few commanding displays at the heart of Niko Kovač’s defence. He featured in 20 matches for the Ligue 1 outfit in the previous campaign, receiving a total of 1773 minutes of playing time across all competitions.
Badiashile has proven his worth as a capable defender by averaging 1.1 tackles, 1.7 interceptions and 3.4 clearances per game in the Ligue 1 last season. He has also been quite accurate with his ball-distribution as evidenced by his pass completion rate of 85.3% in league football (stats via whoscored).
The 19-year-old has represented France at various youth levels but is yet to make a senior appearance for his country. Maybe a summer move to the Spanish capital could give him a more prominent platform to prove his worth at the highest level in the upcoming campaign and stake a claim in Didier Deschamps’ squad for next summer’s UEFA European Championship finals.
What Will The French Youngster Bring To The Table?
Badiashile can use his strength to outmuscle the opposition in the air and command his own penalty area with authority and conviction. He has proven himself to be a reliable defensive presence at the back and can pull off some crucial interceptions and last-ditch clearances for his team. However, the French starlet is still quite raw and would need time to develop into a top talent, so Real Madrid would need to be patient with his development if they can bring him to the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium this summer.
Is Badiashile The Right Fit For Los Blancos?
A defender of Badiashile’s potential will undeniably be a shrewd move for Zinedine Zidane’s side in the long-run. He will not only add more bite and steel to the Madrid defence but also improve the overall depth of their squad. Plus, Badiashile will provide some healthy competition for the likes of Sergio Ramos, Eder Militao and Raphael Varane for a place in Zidane’s first XI next season.
The French prospect is a ball-playing defender who can also be a dominant presence inside his half. Therefore, Badiashile will be a great fit for the La Liga champions as he ticks all the right boxes in terms of what Zidane demands from his centre-backs. At 19, the French whizkid is only going to get better with each season which Los Blancos could look to capitalise on in the years to come.
