Expulsion from Spain: Has Real Madrid lost its identity? | Israel today

Although you usually remember the end, and the end was a dramatic and upsetting 2:1 loss, in the case of Real Madrid and their game against Villarreal on Saturday, everyone remembers the beginning.

Because at the beginning, for the first time in history, the Blancos played without a single Spanish player in the lineup.

After 121 years and 4,436 games that included at least one Spanish player in the 11, against Villarreal in the ceramic stadium, Belgians, Austrians, two Germans, three Frenchmen, two Brazilians, a Croatian and a Uruguayan came up dressed in white.

Although in the values ​​section of the club, which can be found on the official website, it is written "The universality of Real Madrid does not differentiate between people on the basis of race, ideology, culture, religion, opinions and place of birth, a universal Real Madrid is a global Real Madrid".

For many it is a little too universal and global.

True, there were constraints and injuries, but Real Madrid without Spaniards in the lineup for the first time ever, this is something that requires attention.

You could say that this history was already in the air.

It has already happened that Real finished games without a Spaniard in their 11, but there was always at least one representative in the lineup.

At the same time, the only regular Spaniard in the lineup this season is Dani Carvajal, and he was injured on Saturday.

In his place, Carlo Ancelotti chose the Brazilian Eder Militao and there was no sign of Spain.

Six Spaniards sat on the bench, including Lucas Vasquez and Marco Asensio who entered as substitutes, but it is quite clear that their role in the current squad is secondary.

Carvajal

The only Spaniard who is permanent in the team, photo: Getty

In fact, all the Spaniards in Real's squad contributed only five goals together in all competitions this season, and played together 3,654 minutes before data published on the "EL PAIS" website.

Their total minutes is 35% of the total minutes of all Real players, and these are very low numbers that characterize the team in the last three years.

In the 2018/19 season for example, when Sergio Ramos, Carvajal, Nacho, Vasques, Isco, Dani Sabaios and other Spaniards played in the team, their total minutes was 57%.

It is quite clear that the trend is downward.

It is enough to look at Real's current procurement policy to understand how this happened.

It has been three years that the Blancos hardly invested money in the transfer window, three years in which not even one Spanish player joined the club.

Today Real is looking for reality in Europe - for example David Alaba, Antonio Rudiger and Eduardo Kamabinga - when the money it already spends it invests in young players like Orléan Tshumani.

Due to the successes with Vinicius and Rodrigo, she continues with the Brazilian market, as evidenced by the conclusion with 16-year-old Andrik from Palmeiras.

Vinicius.

Real succeeded with the Brazilian market, photo: Getty

"Real must buy from outside"

There is no Spanish procurement, and some argue that there is no other choice.

"If the best players in the world are not in Spain, Real Madrid should acquire them and bring them," said commentator Javier Herras to SER radio.

His colleague Joaquin Maruto agreed: "The raw material available in Spain is not good enough. Real must buy from outside."

For them, and for many fans and commentators, this is the reality.

Many Spaniards were given a chance to prove themselves in white and did not succeed, so it is important that the club knows how to find its stars from outside.

This is the globalization of football, it's like that all over the world, and that's fine.

On the other hand, there are the more traditional ones.

Those who grew up with names like Bottregno, Hanto, Michel, Raul, Guti and Casillas, and believe that local identity is of utmost importance.

They mention that Florentino Perez announced last year that he intends to carry out a "spardization" process for Real Madrid, so this global team caught them by surprise.

"I'm sure the fans would like to see in the team young guys who came out of Castilla (Real's academy), but for some reason it's not happening," said the commentator Hessus Geigo, pointing to another problem.

While Barcelona recently promoted Gabi and Balda, two who grew up with them, Real fails to produce players for the senior team.

Most of the "Castilla" players are sold or loaned.

Nacho continues to be the only representative of the club's youth department in the current senior team.

It may be that the line-up against Villarreal is a random anecdote that will not repeat itself, but the feeling is that this line-up tells a story and teaches about a trend.

Football is becoming more global, and Real Madrid is also going there.

Nacho.

The only representative of the youth department, photo: AFP

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