Why Brazil Starlet Lucas Silva Is a Good Fit for Real Madrid

On Wednesday, Marca reported that Real Madrid are interested in signing Lucas Silva as a replacement for Sami Khedira, who is looking increasingly likely to leave the club.

The next day, a reporter from the paper, J. I. Garcia-Ochoa, conducted a short interview with the Cruzeiro midfielder in which Silva admitted that it would “be an honour” to play for Madrid.

The flurry of accompanying articles suggest Marca believe they are on to something and that Silva is in line for a move to the Bernabeu—either in January or next summer.

But is the 21-year-old a good fit for Real Madrid?

Silva made his first-team debut for Cruzeiro in 2012 and in the second half of last season established himself as a regular starter in the side that won the Brazilian Serie A title.

Cruzeiro look set for a repeat triumph this season, with Silva again one of their most important players.

Tall, strong and a good reader of the game, he has excelled as one of two central midfielders in a 4-2-3-1 formation.

But while his defensive work has been impressive, it is his on-ball ability that has been causing most excitement in Brazil. In a league in which defensive midfielders are primarily deployed as destroyers and runners, Silva’s range of passing has been something of a revelation.

South American expert Tim Vickery went as far as to describe him as “probably the best passing midfielder that Brazilian football has produced in the last few years,” in an interview with talkSPORT in August.

“He’s a two touch player,” his team-mate, and former Madrid player, Julio Baptista told Marca. “In Brazil, players hog the ball, but Lucas plays it quickly.”

Silva is likely to develop into a player similar in style to Xabi Alonso—a tempo-controller at the base of the midfield.

Silva is yet to be called up to the senior national team, but he is expected to be a part of the Brazil U23 side at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. He was a key component of the U20 side that won the Toulon Tournament in France this summer.

It all sounds very promising, but at the same time it must be noted that, at 21 years old, he is far from the finished article.

Bleacher Report columnist Christopher Atkins listed “aerial challenges, decision making when rushed and dribbling” as Silva’s three primary weaknesses in an article for ESPN FC earlier this year.

With just 50 top-flight appearances to his credit, as per Soccerway, there are clearly still some rough edges to Silva’s game.

It would also take some time for him to adapt to the increased tempo of the European game. Fernando Gago, for one, was never able to control matches in Europe to the same degree that he did in South America.

While Baptista believes that Silva has the necessary talent to succeed at the Bernabeu, he also notes that his colleague would need time and patience in order to settle at such a big club.

But these are similar to the risks that any club takes on when they sign a talented young player with the potential to become a star.

Quiet, determined and God-fearing, Silva is better equipped than most to deal with the pressure of a big transfer.

Christopher Lee/Getty Images

Per Super Esportes (h/t Scouted Football), Silva’s agent has previously suggested that Cruzeiro would be unlikely to accept less than €10 million for his client; €15 million is the figure that is now being mentioned.

Manchester United and Internazionale have, as per Super Esportes (h/t the Daily Mail), previously been linked with Silva. But it now appears that Madrid are in pole position to secure the signature of the 21-year-old.

Silva is a player with a big future ahead of him and has the necessary attributes to suggest that he could be a good long-term project. His intelligence and passing range are reminiscent of a young Alonso, while he also has the necessary physical attributes to take on more of a box-to-box role if required.

The suggested fee is perhaps a little high for a player at his stage of development. And it must also be noted that Silva doesn’t really fit the profile of Madrid’s recent first-team signings—primarily big names in their mid-20s and promising Spanish youngsters.

But if Florentino Perez is willing to sanction the transfer, Madrid will be buying themselves one of the most promising young players in Brazil, and one with a lot of potential upside.

He would be unlikely to make an immediate impact, but in time Silva would prove himself a good fit for Real Madrid.

Follow @chewingthecoca