Raphael Guerreiro, Borussia Dortmund (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)
2. Raphael Guerreiro
From one versatile Bundesliga left-back to another, Raphael Guerreiro has been consistency personified over the last 18 months. He is enjoying an impressive season for Borussia Dortmund, and his performances have helped him bench big-money summer signing Nico Schulz.
Guerreiro was heavily linked with a move away from Borussia Dortmund before eventually signing a new contract with the club last year. So like Alaba, the Portuguese international will cost Real Madrid quite a bit of money.
But just like Alaba, Guerreiro is a player who is in his prime and is one of the best left-backs in the world. He has experience of winning trophies and playing in big matches for both Portugal and Borussia Dortmund. And he is also someone who can actually defend reliably, unlike most full-backs in today’s world.
Guerreiro also has quick feet, great technical ability and is a big threat going forward. The 26-year-old has five goals and three assists to his name this season. He has formed an excellent partnership with Real Madrid loanee Achraf Hakimi on the opposite flank at Borussia Dortmund. And the duo could really excel playing together as the two full-backs at the Santiago Bernabéu next season.
Guerreiro is comfortable both playing as a full-back and as a wing-back. He is also capable of playing further forward on the wing, as he did for the majority of last season. He has also been used in the middle of the park and as a number ten during his time at Borussia Dortmund.
David Alaba</a> a dispensable figure at Bayern Munich. Despite his struggles in Munich this season, the Austrian international is considered to be one of the best left-backs in the world. Alaba would represent the perfect Galactico signing to replace the outgoing Marcelo.</p>
<p>Alaba’s contract expires at the end of next season, and he is said to be looking for a new challenge. Replacing Marcelo at Real Madrid would certainly be a tempting challenge for him. <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/03/29/left-backs-replace-marcelo-real-madrid/2/"https://www.kicker.de/772859/artikel/bayern_aerger_um_alaba_real_madrid_ist_interessiert">According to Kicker</a>, <em>Los Blancos</em> are interested in signing Alaba, although he will certainly not come cheap.</p>
<p>Another potential issue with the transfer could be the impact it has on the two young left-backs Real Madrid have in their ranks. <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/03/29/left-backs-replace-marcelo-real-madrid/2/"https://fbref.com/en/players/3cefcaef/Ferland-Mendy?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Ferland Mendy</a>, who arrived on a big-money transfer from Lyon last summer, is enjoying an impressive debut campaign.</p>
<p>While <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/03/29/left-backs-replace-marcelo-real-madrid/2/"https://fbref.com/en/players/3353737a/Sergio-Reguilon?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Sergio Reguilon</a>, who is currently on loan at Sevilla, is another highly-rated left-back. Signing Alaba would probably mean selling one of Mendy and Reguilon for Real Madrid.</p>
<p>But Alaba is still only 27, he is in his peak and has many years at the top level left in him. He has exceptional quality and is also very versatile, and can play both in the midfield, and as a centre-back if need be.</p>
<p>Not only that, but Alaba has also shown his leadership qualities at Bayern Munich. Leadership is something the Real Madrid squad desperately lacks at the moment. Marcelo is an influential figure in their dressing room, and Alaba could replace him in that aspect as well if the Brazilian does leave in the summer.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #0" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/03/29/left-backs-replace-marcelo-real-madrid/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Raphael Guerreiro </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-480063 size-large" src=https://playingfor90.com/2020/03/29/left-backs-replace-marcelo-real-madrid/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fplayingfor90.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1207292400-850x560.jpeg" alt="Raphael Guerreiro, Borussia Dortmund" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">Raphael Guerreiro, Borussia Dortmund (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>2. Raphael Guerreiro</h3>
<p>From one versatile Bundesliga left-back to another, <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/03/29/left-backs-replace-marcelo-real-madrid/2/"https://fbref.com/en/players/048a1cbc/Raphael-Guerreiro?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22>Raphael Guerreiro</a> has been consistency personified over the last 18 months. He is enjoying an impressive season for Borussia Dortmund, and his performances have helped him bench big-money summer signing <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/03/29/left-backs-replace-marcelo-real-madrid/2/"https://fbref.com/en/players/fa274d97/Nico-Schulz?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Nico Schulz</a>.</p>
<p>Guerreiro was heavily linked with a move away from Borussia Dortmund before eventually signing a new contract with the club last year. So like Alaba, the Portuguese international will cost Real Madrid quite a bit of money.</p>
<p>But just like Alaba, Guerreiro is a player who is in his prime and is one of the best left-backs in the world. He has experience of winning trophies and playing in big matches for both Portugal and Borussia Dortmund. And he is also someone who can actually defend reliably, unlike most full-backs in today’s world.</p>
<p>Guerreiro also has quick feet, great technical ability and is a big threat going forward. The 26-year-old has five goals and three assists to his name this season. He has formed an excellent partnership with Real Madrid loanee <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/03/29/left-backs-replace-marcelo-real-madrid/2/"https://fbref.com/en/players/e42d61c7/Achraf-Hakimi?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Achraf Hakimi</a> on the opposite flank at Borussia Dortmund. And the duo could really excel playing together as the two full-backs at the Santiago Bernabéu next season.</p>
<p>Guerreiro is comfortable both playing as a full-back and as a wing-back. He is also capable of playing further forward on the wing, as he did for the majority of last season. He has also been used in the middle of the park and as a number ten during his time at Borussia Dortmund.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #0" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/03/29/left-backs-replace-marcelo-real-madrid/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Angeliño </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-480062 size-large" src=https://playingfor90.com/2020/03/29/left-backs-replace-marcelo-real-madrid/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fplayingfor90.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1206674630-850x560.jpeg" alt="Angeliño, Red Bull Leipzig" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">Angeliño, Red Bull Leipzig (Photo by ANP Sport via Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>3. Angeliño</h3>
<p>Angeliño is another player who is performing really well in the Bundesliga, but he is owned by Manchester City. The 23-year-old is a product of Deportivo de La Coruña’s youth academy and was linked with a move to Real Madrid and Barcelona before he joined Manchester City in 2014.</p>
<p>After making only three first-team appearances for the English giants over four years, Angeliño joined PSV Eindhoven, where he enjoyed his breakthrough campaign. That prompted Manchester City to trigger their buy-back clause and sign him back just a year later.</p>
<p>But after failing to make an impression, he was sent out on loan to RB Leipzig in January. His performances in Germany have seen him earn rave reviews. There was even talk of Leipzig buying him permanently before the coronavirus pandemic struck. <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/03/29/left-backs-replace-marcelo-real-madrid/2/"https://www.kicker.de/4000000033081/transfermeldung/ablösen_utopisch__was_wird_aus_angelino_und_schick_">Kicker believes that Die Roten will not be able to afford him anymore.</p>
<p>Leipzig’s purchase option is said to be in the region of 30 million euros. So the Spaniard would represent a much cheaper option for Real Madrid compared to Alaba and Guerreiro.</p>
<p>Angeliño has largely been used as a wing-back by Julian Nagelsmann, but he is also more than comfortable playing in a back four. He is a tenacious defender and is capable of causing problems going forward. He never stops running and works really hard for the team.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="Juventus once again turn their attention to Real Madrid left-back" data-url="https://playingfor90.com/2020/03/28/juventus-attention-real-madrid-left-back/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background: #0" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/03/29/left-backs-replace-marcelo-real-madrid/2/"https://playingfor90.com/2020/03/28/juventus-attention-real-madrid-left-back/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> Juventus once again turn their attention to Real Madrid left-back </a> </div>
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<p>Signing Angeliño would also ensure that Ferland Mendy can continue his impressive progress. Instead, the healthy competition for places would help get the best out of both of them.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">