Makelele's Curse

Maybe something happened the day that Claude Makelele left Real Madrid. Perhaps it was a curse himself for not valuing the football club qualities in perspective, perhaps poetic justice or divine providence, who knows. But since that distant 2003, which left the French footballer white discipline the club after failing to accept his claims, Madrid has been orphaned in the position of defensive midfielder, as none of the players who have taken up his role at the center the field have achieved the level offered Makelele.

Real owed to both the player and the player himself at Real Madrid, who signed him from Celtic to launch the first continental level. But none of them were elegant separation. The player demanded a commensurate increase to whatever your work deserved, but the club did not agree. Chelsea's march was the solution found. Madrid lost a player who, like Zidane and Ronaldo, also was unique in its own, only that theirs was not as showy.

There are few players who have gone to Real Madrid over the years with a mission to do the same work that met with astonishing effectiveness Makelele. Florentino Perez, aware of his mistake and tried to rectify it with two players who never gave the size as the Dane Gravesen and Pablo Garcia. The first had as much charisma and character gaps in his game, and apart from a Dodge impossible and dubiously intentioned, did little more at the Bernabeu. The second, after a good performance at Osasuna, never gave the carving. Cambiasso also held there several times, but soon leave Inter. The mother met a host of stars in their squad but the player on which to rely when it was time to attack.

After the departure of Florentino Ramon Calderon seemed determined to get that figure for the midfield, and hired Emerson and Diarra. Between both sides nearly forty million. With Capello as coach, even toying with a double pivot with both. The Brazilian was a fiasco and a shadow of what was at Juventus and the Brazilian team. Mali, after a good track record in Lyon, paid more and looked like it might be the solution, but it was more less in your stay at the Bernabeu until told to Mourinho and went to Monaco.

Just six months after the arrival of both arrived in Madrid Fernando Gago from Boca, which also cost cheaper. It was assumed that it was more organized but with ability to work. A new round, go. Hardly. As Diarra, started well for their performance decline gradually. It continues in the club, but is a step to leave Italian football. Some homegrown as first or Javi García Borja also had a chance then, but I can not set.

The last bet was to Lass Calderón Diarra. After failing to succeed at Arsenal and Chelsea, his fine work in Portsmouth won him signing for Real Madrid in exchange for 20 million. It seemed that the French finally found the new Makelele: Lass stealing, cut and worked with great effectiveness and the return of Florentino and the arrival of Pellegrini remained essential to the bench ... until one day he disappeared from the alignments. His value in the field has always been at odds with his bad head. In addition, gaps in the matches featuring high-flying tactics and gaps did the rest. Today is not required and is looking for accommodation, but if it continues, Mourinho will have it.

Next was Khedira, Stuttgart llegador become the defensive midfielder after he reinvented Löw South Africa in the World. As such he signed for Real Madrid, and Sami had to adapt. The Bundesliga was a player who took advantage of its power and display to appear from second line, but in Madrid he found eminently defensive tasks. His tactical discipline and ability to work will ensure a lot of games but not play in your ideal position. With the Portuguese have been other solutions like Pepe and Coentrao, players converted to the position, but do not seem definitive.

There is talk of Sahin, but a great capacity for work that is Turkish, is atechnical and offensive player. I doubt you see many times a double pivot formed by Xabi Alonso and Sahin. Today, the defensive midfield is a position that is not entirely clear in the team Real Madrid, Florentino and never has been very reluctant to spend money on that position. Makelele's curse continues in the grass at the Bernabeu. Perhaps prayer is the solution, but for now, Mourinho will have to keep looking for alternatives.

Follow me on Twitter: @ caballergabriel

Photo | Jan S0L0