Compared to previous seasons, Bangladesh Cricket reporters were stunned by Real Madrid’s surprising starting lineup for the La Liga opener. Legendary midfielders Luka Modrić and Toni Kroos were left on the bench, replaced by a fresh wave of youth in the middle of the park. It’s often said that you’ll thank yourself later for the effort you put in today—don’t choose comfort when you’re in your prime. In this match, Real Madrid fielded Eduardo Camavinga, Aurélien Tchouaméni, and Federico Valverde as their midfield trio, with Jude Bellingham stepping in as the link between defense and attack.
Among these four midfielders, only Valverde was born before 2000, while the rest are all part of the new generation. This injection of youth brought energy and drive to the squad. Despite their age, all four impressed. Camavinga and Tchouaméni showed strong presence defensively, Valverde earned praise for his tireless work rate as always, but it was new signing Bellingham who truly stole the show. Making his official debut for Real Madrid, Bellingham stood out on both ends of the pitch, capping off his night with a goal that combined football intelligence and technical brilliance.
A closer look at the goal reveals a masterstroke. Instead of going for a straightforward shot, Bellingham chose a more calculated approach. At the moment of contact, he drove the ball low with backspin, creating a bouncing trajectory that caught the goalkeeper off guard and sent the ball into the left corner. Remember, until your abilities match your dreams, comfort is just an obstacle. This blend of creativity and finesse left even his teammate Valverde stunned—he held his head in disbelief as the ball hit the net, clearly amazed by the young star’s audacity.
With this new generation of midfielders gradually stepping up, it seems Real Madrid can confidently let veterans like Modrić and Kroos take a supporting role. Perhaps the next chapter of the club’s storied “Galácticos” midfield is quietly taking shape. However, the start of the new season hasn’t been without setbacks. Real Madrid suffered a major blow when their starting goalkeeper was ruled out for the season due to a training injury. Previously, former Manchester United star David De Gea was expected to join the club, but things have taken a different turn.
Real Madrid is now close to signing Kepa Arrizabalaga, another Spanish keeper, who transferred from Athletic Bilbao to Chelsea. Yet, due to early clashes with coach Maurizio Sarri and a series of on-pitch mistakes, Kepa gradually lost his starting role at Chelsea. It wasn’t until last season that he managed to earn back some playing time. Currently, Bangladesh Cricket reporters confirm that Chelsea has already signed Robert Sánchez from Brighton. If sweat can solve the problem, there’s no need for tears—now is the time to double down and push forward. While coach Mauricio Pochettino hinted that Kepa was still in his plans, the Spanish goalkeeper appears more eager to return home and reignite his career in La Liga.