A Progress Report on Real Madrid's Villarreal Loanee Denis Cheryshev

When Carlo Ancelotti took over as Real Madrid manager in 2013, he was quickly quizzed on an array of possible exits at the Santiago Bernabeu. 

Among the names thrown at the Italian were Sami Khedira, Fabio Coentrao and Angel Di Maria. But there was another name, one slightly more obscure, Ancelotti also needed an answer for: Denis Cheryshev. 

"He is staying with us and will arrive next week," the manager said of the Russian at the time, per the club's official website. 

Less than a month later, Cheryshev, a product of the club's youth system, had been sent to Sevilla on loan. When that spell reached its conclusion, he quickly joined Villarreal under the same arrangement. 

Thus, when he arrived at Estadio El Madrigal, his career seemed to be drifting; consecutive loan spells aren't exactly votes of confidence from a parent club.

But 2014-15 has been a breakout season for Cheryshev. Under the management of Marcelino Garcia Toral, the 24-year-old has been one of La Liga's brightest young talents, standing alongside the impressive Luciano Vietto as one of the cornerstones of Villarreal's attack. 

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"I like the way Villarreal play, always looking for possession and also to get forward, with quick counter-attacks," Cheryshev said at a news conference when he joined El Submarino Amarillo last July. "I think that will suit me well."

He was dead right. 

Since scoring in his Liga debut for Villarreal against Levante, the Russian has become an indispensable member of Marcelino's XI. Operating primarily as a left-winger, Cheryshev has been a perfect fit for his side's 4-4-2, combining his hard-running work in attack with the sort of defensive discipline demanded by his manager. 

In total, the Fabrica product has made 39 appearances for Villarreal, 26 of which have been starts across the club's campaigns in La Liga, the Europa League and the Copa del Rey. In the significant playing time, Cheryshev has tallied seven goals and 10 assists—a handsome return for a player who arrived with little experience in the Primera Division. 

Most striking about the loanee's play has been his effectiveness when counter-attacking. A prime example came when Villarreal stormed back from two goals down to defeat Rayo Vallecano, 4-2, last September, a game in which Cheryshev's charging runs down the left flank and pinpoint balls to Vietto were a major factor in the turnaround. 

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The winger has also showcased his ability to finish swift moves forward. Earlier this season against Athletic Bilbao, Victor Ruiz picked out Cheryshev's intelligent run, seeing him get in behind the Basque outfit and score.

His goals against Levante and Borussia Monchengladbach were also indicative of his knack for trailing an attacking move before making a well-timed run into the box, while other impressive performances have come against Celta Vigo and Real Sociedad. 

What's more, Cheryshev possesses a hammer of a left boot. 

Equally impressive, though, has been with work without the ball. All season, Marcelino's side has been recognised as defensively organised, well-drilled and hard-working—traits Cheryshev has embraced. 

With 2.2 tackles per game, according to WhoScored.com, the Russian has been the most prolific tackler in the Villarreal squad outside of defenders such as Mario and Jaume Costa. He also ranks among the top handful for aerials won and passes blocked. 

Such rapid development at El Madrigal had suggested Cheryshev was ready to fight for a first-team place at Real Madrid upon the completion of his loan spell, with AS reporting as much in January. The ongoing evolution of Cristiano Ronaldo into a No. 9 has also opened up a potential need for a true left-winger at the Bernabeu.

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But this past Saturday, AS indicated the thinking had changed at Real Madrid, with the former Castilla player looking set to depart the Bernabeu permanently this summer. Given that it was Ancelotti who had reportedly been impressed with Cheryshev, according to Tomas Roncero of AS, it's seems that the likely departure of the Italian at the conclusion of the season is a contributing factor in the reversal of the club's intentions.

Additionally, the forward's impressive form this season has attracted external interest, and Real Madrid are looking to receive £15 million for him in the transfer market, with Liverpool among the interested parties, per Simon Jones of the Daily Mail. 

For a player who's still unproven at an elite club, such a figure, if it were to present itself, would be difficult to turn down for Los Blancos, who have struggled to accommodate other back-up forwards such as Javier Hernandez, Jese and Alvaro Morata in recent seasons. 

Would Cheryshev have been prepared to fight for his place? Perhaps. Would he be a difference-maker for Real Madrid? Hard to tell. 

But a breakout season at Villarreal suggests he'll get the chance elsewhere to prove he can be, even if his future isn't in the Spanish capital.