The injury to Éder Militão exposed Real Madrid’s need for a center back. While the club decided not to sign anyone and stick with the veteran trio of David Alaba, Antonio Rüdiger, and Nacho Fernández, many Madridistas were already concerned at the time about the club’s quality at the position.
Now, it’s quite clear that Real need to invest in another young center back to pair with Militão when he returns to health. It will be highly unlikely for Madrid to find a good solution in the winter transfer market, so the move will be to make a long-term signing next summer.
Here are five possible center back options for Los Merengues to mull over in 2024.
Sporting CB Gonçalo Inácio
Sporting CP’s 22-year-old center back Gonçalo Inácio is the name most frequently linked to Real Madrid in the 2024 transfer windows – and for good reason. So many quality defenders have been produced in the Portuguese top flight, such as Militão himself and Manchester City’s Rúben Dias.
Inácio could be the next in line. There will be plenty of competition for his signature, but Real Madrid always back their chances when it comes to competing for the best young talents in the world. After not pursuing Joško Gvardiola hard and watching him go to City, perhaps they will be more aggressive in courting Inácio after the Militão injury.
Nice CB Jean-Clair Todibo
A more proven player is Jean-Clair Todibo, who has been around the block for a few years now. As early as 2019/20, Todibo was standing out as an every-game starter for an otherwise woeful Schalke team, impressing with his activity and willingness to help a poor team offensively.
On a better side in Nice, Todibo is shining. This season, Nice have been one of the elite defensive teams in all of European football, allowing a meager four goals in 13 games. That’s like Barcelona 2022/23 level.
Todibo, a former Barcelona prospect himself, is at the heart and center of it all for Nice in 2023/24. Exquisite on the ball, capable of recovering possession frequently, and maturing as a defender off the ball, Todibo is one of the world’s best.
Lille CB Leny Yoro
Just 18 years old, Leny Yoro is a centerpiece player for another great defense in Ligue 1. Lille are allowing just 11 goals in 13 matches, tied with PSG for the second-best defense in the league behind Monaco. Great teams around Europe are already taking note of Yoro’s prodigious talent, and there’s a feeling he could be destined to join the CB-needy Parisians in 2024.
However, Real Madrid need to be among the teams calling for the young French center back. Madrid have quite the track record with signing great French players, and Yoro could be a long-term solution at the center back position alongside Militão. When watching him play this season, it’s hard to argue that either Rüdiger or Alaba are better than him – even now.
The stats are impressive. Yoro is averaging 1.6 tackles and 1.1 interceptions per game, and he is being dribbled past just 0.3 times per match. Oh, and he has two goals to his credit.
Atalanta CB Giorgio Scalvini
Ever since breaking out last season, Giorgio Scalvini has been one of the hottest names on the transfer market in Italian football, with Juventus and every other top club in Serie A making a play for the most talented man in Bergamo.
Atalanta have a knack for finding great players, but Scalvini might be the most intriguing prospect they’ve had yet. He looks like the total package in defense with that X-Factor ability to make game-changing plays in the attack, which is something Real Madrid have always valued.
Scalvini is only 19 years old, yet he is already one of the best players in Serie A at any position. His numbers in 2023/24 so far are jumping off the page with 2.1 tackles and 1.9 interceptions per game while being dribbled past just 0.3 times per match. Scalvini might be the best center back money can buy right now.
Sevilla CB Loïc Badé
Staying in LaLiga, Loïc Badé is forming a nice partnership with Real Madrid legend Sergio Ramos, one season after inching closer to becoming a household name in his own right after a heroic Europa League Final performance in Sevilla’s narrow victory over Serie A powerhouse Roma.
Badé has been a quality center back for years, as he played at the highest level for Lens in 2020/21 despite being a prospect. Now 23 years old, Badé has been a true stalwart in LaLiga, and he’s on his way to putting together a career-best season in the 2023/24 campaign.
After letting Pau Torres and Jules Koundé go, it may be high time for Real Madrid to snap up a young, proven LaLiga center back in the 2024 summer transfer market.
The managing editor of The Trivela Effect, Kevin has 15 years of experience in digital media. He has been an editor for NFL Spin Zone, Daily DDT for pro wrestling, Autzen Zoo covering the Oregon Ducks, Musket Fire covering the New England Patriots, The Real Champs covering Real Madrid, Old Juve covering Juventus, Rush The Kop covering Liverpool, and Release The Knappen covering Schalke. His work has been featured in ESPN, Bleacher Report, Yahoo! Sports, NBC Sports, and other outlets. You can contact him at the site’s official Twitter handle @TrivelaEffect or via the site’s official email thetrivelaeffect@gmail.com.