Patience is worth it: the long road to relevance for Brahim and Ceballos

Recruitment does not make sense. Likewise, the decisions of the players in the destination of their club do not have to make sense.

Brahim Díaz signed for Real Madrid six years ago in a decision that baffled many, both from the perspective of Real Madrid and the player’s perspective. For Madrid, they had Gareth Bale, Marco Asensio, Isco, Lucas Vázquez and Vinicius Junior, all occupied the same positions in the wings. In fact, Vinicius Junior, 18 at that time and the brightest perspective with a high price of € 45 million, had played only 181 minutes in January. The reason why Brahim Díaz left Pep and Manchester City? Develop and win more play time. Was Real Madrid going to achieve that? They do not add up. There was a logjam in the end of the extreme, but Brahim bet on himself, and Madrid opted for talent.

This phenomenon is not new to Real Madrid. He returned to July 2017. Dani Ceballos, after ensuring the MVP of the U21 euro championship with Spain, was signed by Real Madrid for 16.5 million euros. All of Europe was after Ceballos, and most of the clubs had an initial position to offer him. With Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and Casemiro, all at the top of their powers, it was obvious that their progression would stop. After not being able to convince Zidane, Ceballos finished that season with less than 1,000 minutes to his credit. It seemed a movement that would not exercise for the player or the club.

Advance towards 2025, and Brahim Díaz literally located as the twelfth man in terms of minutes played (excluding goalkeepers): the striker is the Ancelotti reference option to replace one of his first three. The tiny game creator now stands out as one of the best in the world in the creation of shots and goal opportunities of goals out of dribbles, a defensive action or a live pass (Percentile 99 between midfielders and attacker ends ). His close control and his ability to operate in narrow spaces have made him a crucial asset to break the deep defensive blocks, something with which Real Madrid has historically fought in certain matches.

Dani Ceballos, at the age of 28, seven years older than when he first arrived, is fulfilling his role perfectly. He has added new elements to his game, namely, defensively, with the floor he covers and his average of three stalls by game placed him in the 80th percentile among the center midfielders. More importantly, his profile in the ball is one that is missing in the Real Madrid team after the game of Kroos and the gradual decline of Luka Modric. Its ability to dictate the tempo, recycle possession and provide murderous passes that break the line have consolidated their place as a valuable squad player. Ceballos is no longer the young talent who fights for minutes: he is a mature midfielder and proven in battle that understands the nuances of the game and thrives in his role as a key piece of depth and a player who is now pressing for an initial role, even When the full squad is healthy.

The important roles and the relevance of Brahim and Ceballos are another testimony of the unpredictable nature of football development. What seemed disconcerting transfers at that time, where immediate logic suggested that both were making the wrong decision, now seem to be solid decisions of all involved. The progress was far from linear, with both players who endured long -term loan spells of the club in Arsenal and Milan. The direct sales of each player were often promoted in the media, but both remained firm in their belief that they were a real quality in Madrid. The youth progression is rarely simple, but if a talented player can remain patient, lower his head and work, opportunities tend to arrive. Ceballos and Brahim have taken advantage of their possibilities and now serve as an example for future recruits.