Real Madrid already have Toni Kroos’ successor within the team | OneFootball

At the start of the 20234/25 season, midfielder Dani Ceballos’ future at Real Madrid appeared uncertain. The 28-year-old, who had previously shown promise at Real Betis, was barely making an impact in the team.

He often found himself coming on in the final minutes of matches, and despite the clear absence of Toni Kroos, manager Carlo Ancelotti did not seem inclined to use him regularly.

It must be noted that one of the reasons why Real Madrid missed Kroos so much was his role as an orchestrator in the middle of the park.

The German was known for his ability to control the tempo of the game and distribute the ball efficiently. While Luka Modric also shares some of those responsibilities, he is more dynamic and tends to focus on driving the ball forward.

However, in recent weeks, Ceballos has begun to grow into a more prominent role in the team. While he does not exactly replicate Kroos’ style, Ceballos is the closest player in the squad to fill that void, both in terms of his on-field position and his style of play.

A look at the numbers

Dani Ceballos has proved to be an effective player for Real Madrid. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

Ceballos may not be the player to completely replace Kroos, but he has become an increasingly important figure in the team’s midfield. In fact, his statistics are impressive, particularly when it comes to his passing.

Only Modric comes close to matching Ceballos in terms of the number of passes made and touches on the ball.

To put it in words, Ceballos leads the team with an impressive 88.5 passes per 90 minutes, followed by Modric at 79.1.

When it comes to passes in the final third, Ceballos averages 9.47 per match, closely behind Modric’s 9.76. Moreover, he is also the player who comes into contact with the ball the most, with 1.11 touches per minute.

There is much more

Dani Ceballos is the closest player Real Madrid have to Toni Kroos. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Interestingly, it is not just the quantity of Ceballos’ passes that stands out; it’s also the quality. He has the highest passing accuracy in the team, with an impressive 93.9%.

This statistic places him ahead of players like Ferland Mendy, Antonio Rudiger, and Aurelien Tchouameni, who tend to make safer, more conservative passes.

Ceballos’ accuracy shows that he is not only reliable but also capable of making progressive passes that move the ball forward, just like Kroos did.

In addition to his offensive contributions, Ceballos has made noticeable strides in his defensive game. He now leads the team in tackles and dribbler duels won per 90 minutes, showing his all-around growth as a player.

While he may not yet be a guaranteed starter under Ancelotti, Ceballos has certainly found his place in the squad. He has stepped up when the team needed him, offering a vital blend of creativity, passing accuracy, and defensive solidity.

In a season that has been challenging for Real Madrid, Ceballos has shown that he can provide the team with the qualities it has lacked, proving that he is an essential part of the squad moving forward.