The missed opportunity for Real Madrid in their midfield

Apuesta a este partido aquí

La Liga

1 X 2

Real Madrid Villarreal

10/10/26 21:00:00

1.25 6.25 8.50

 PUBLICIDAD

Cuotas validas al publicarse, sujetas a cambios. Regístrese en bet365, ingrese 5€ o más en su cuenta y conseguirá un 100% de su ingreso válido en créditos de apuesta (hasta 100€). Solo para clientes nuevos. Se aplican las condiciones. Las ganancias no incluyen el importe de los créditos de apuesta. Se aplican premios máximos, restricciones de juego, límites de tiempo y condiciones. Es necesario registrarse.

The Real Madrid transfer market saw the departure of Chema Andrés, a 21-year-old midfielder. Less than three weeks later, the youth academy player has already made an impact in the Premier League with Brighton. The English club paid €23 million to Stuttgart on September 1, while Madrid received €11.5 million by retaining 50% of his rights.

Chema Andrés, Immediate Impact Away from Real Madrid

Chema Andrés' adaptation has been quick. After playing 41 games with Stuttgart in the 2025/26 season, with 4 goals and 2 assists, the midfielder arrived in England with a five-year contract signed with Brighton.

In his initial matches, he already provided concrete statistics. He made his debut with 25 minutes and an assist against Coventry and, three days later, started in the 2-3 victory against Manchester United at Old Trafford in the third round of the Carabao Cup.

His next start came against Arsenal in the Premier League. On September 19, Brighton defeated the reigning champions 3-0, with Andrés scoring the third goal in the 57th minute with a header from a corner. It was his first goal in the English competition.

His performance justifies the comparisons emerging in England with Rodri Hernández. Andrés, standing around 1.90 meters tall, operates as a central midfielder and had already stood out in Stuttgart for his ability in both build-up play and defensive work.

Real Madrid and the Decision on Their Midfield

Real Madrid had a means to retain control over Andrés when transferring him to Stuttgart in 2025, but the subsequent deal with Brighton altered that situation. The Madrid club had retained 50% of the rights, earned €11.5 million, and lost control over the player after the English sale.

The decision takes on another dimension considering José Mourinho's current midfield setup. The coach utilized Fede Valverde as a starter in the first seven league games and also against Inter in the Champions League, where the Uruguayan scored in the 2-1 win at the Bernabéu.

Additionally, Valverde has recently suffered a grade 3 ankle sprain in his left ankle that could sideline him for two to three weeks. Mourinho had cautioned in early September that suspensions of various midfielders might leave him with only Valverde as the available first-team player for a match.

The circumstances do not imply that Mourinho had pursued Andrés, but they do underscore the type of asset Real Madrid had left out of their squad: a 21-year-old central midfielder developed in La Fábrica, experienced in the Bundesliga, and now contributing a goal and an assist in his early games with Brighton.

The forthcoming reference will be his consistency post the international break. If Andrés continues featuring in Brighton's starting lineup, Real Madrid will have increasing data to assess a decision made in 2025 and finalized with his permanent departure in 2026.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, La oportunidad perdida del Real Madrid para su centro del campo