Real Madrid defender sees it ‘impossible’ to return to former role; could switch position | OneFootball

Alvaro Carreras has silently taken over as Real Madrid’s top-placed left-back option under Xabi Alonso and the Spaniard is seemingly irreplaceable in the manager’s plans now.

Fran Garcia, the player who served as Ferland Mendy’s deputy last season, is now the team’s second-placed option in the department and has also established himself as a reliable option for Alonso.

The loser of the entire situation, needless to say, is Ferland Mendy himself who was Real Madrid’s de facto starter in the department a year ago.

He has been out through injury since last season’s Copa del Rey final and is yet to debut under Alonso despite returning to the squad against Juventus.

A queer situation

As reported by MARCA, Mendy knows that it is impossible for him to return to being Real Madrid’s left-back.

Ferland Mendy could feature as a centre-back. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)

With Carreras taking the prominence he has and Garcia establishing himself as the number two, there is simply no scope to fight for his place back.

The Real Madrid manager, thus, has identified a new role for Mendy for which he can audition in the team’s upcoming games – as a central defender.

In the team’s recent friendly game against the Castilla side, Alonso deployed Mendy as a central defender and his decision caught the eyes of fans and the media as the possible future of the French defender at the club.

Dean Huijsen and Eder Militao are currently the team’s natural starters in the department with Antonio Rudiger, David Alaba and Raul Asencio being the backups.

Given that Rudiger and Asencio are still injured, Alaba is just returning from injury and Huijsen struggled against Liverpool, there is an ever-so-small possibility that Mendy is given minutes in the position in the coming games to solidify his stance and earn the manager’s favour.