Fichajes has recently reported that Real Madrid have identified Giorgio Chiellini as a replacement for Raphael Varane in this off-season. It is believed that Los Blancos are eyeing a move for the Italy international who is available as a free agent after being released by Juventus earlier this summer (via Fichajes).
Chiellini’s Recent Form For Both Club And Country
Chiellini recently helped his country win the UEFA European Championships and caught the eye by forming an excellent defensive partnership with Leonardo Bonnuci during the tournament. The Italian defensive ace had a campaign of mixed emotions with Juve as he made 25 appearances for them, picking up two assists and five yellow cards in various competitions.
The 36-year-old was a rock at the back for the Turin outfit after averaging 0.7 tackles, 1.6 interceptions and 3.3 clearances per 90 minutes in Serie A football last season. He was even exceptional when distributing the ball from the back, as evidenced by his pass completion rate of 92.1% in league football (stats via whoscored).
Now that Chiellini is available on a free transfer, he could be a clever acquisition for Los Blancos if they can find a way to lure him to the Spanish capital this summer. At 36, the former Juventus star managed to lead Italy to success in Europe, so there is no doubt that he still has what it takes to perform at a high level in top-flight football.
Will Chiellini Be A Decent Option For Los Blancos?
Standing at 1.87m, Chiellini can still be a commanding presence inside his penalty box and excels at winning his fair share of aerial duels on the defensive end of the field. He can even read the danger quickly and usually times his tackles well to secure the ball back for his team. The 112-time Italy international also doesn’t take too many chances with his clearances and is proficient at playing his way out from the back.
However, father time is slowly but surely catching up with Chiellini’s game. Moreover, he lacks the pace to get back and defend when left isolated in a 1v1 foot chase with the opposition. Even then, the pros outweigh the cons of signing him. Therefore, Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti would be wise to offer the Italian defensive ace a short-term contract as he will add a lot of quality to his backline this summer.
Chiellini could serve as an ideal backup to Eder Militao and Nacho Fernandez at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in the coming seasons which makes him a good, short-term option for Los Blancos to consider during this summer transfer period.
