Madrid's Missing Men: The Forgotten Heroes of Last Season's Double
From key contributors in the Champions League and La Liga double to virtual ghosts - what's happened to some of Madrid's sidelined stars?
The stars who helped secure Madrid’s Champions League and Liga double have mysteriously vanished from the spotlight, with some barely featuring for a year and a half.
The Disappearing Act
Sometimes football can be a right old funny game, can’t it? Eighteen months into the 24/25 campaign and we’re still waiting for signs of life from several players who were absolutely crucial to Real Madrid’s Champions League and La Liga double.
It’s one thing when your Vinicius, Bellingham, Rodrygo, Valverde or Camavinga have a few off-days - that happens to the best of ‘em. But it’s a whole different kettle of fish when players who were instrumental in last season’s success have practically vanished off the face of the footballing earth.
From Heroes to Zeros
The situation has left Madrid fans scratching their heads. One minute these lads were the toast of the Bernabéu, putting in performances worthy of the famous white shirt, the next they’re nowhere to be seen. It’s like they’ve done a proper disappearing act - gone for a Burton, as me old nan might say.
Questions for Ancelotti
The ongoing absence raises some serious questions about squad management:
- Is this a tactical decision from Don Carlo?
- Are there fitness issues being kept under wraps?
- Has something happened behind the scenes?
- Could this affect squad harmony as the season progresses?
The Bigger Picture
For a club with Madrid’s ambitions, having players who contributed “notably or outstandingly” (as the Spanish press put it) to a double-winning campaign suddenly become peripheral is puzzling at best, concerning at worst.
With the business end of the season approaching and battles on multiple fronts, Ancelotti might need to consider reintegrating these forgotten men if Madrid are to maintain their challenge for silverware.