Real Madrid Transfer News: Milan Loan Switch Ideal for Asier Illarramendi

As Real Madrid continue to motor onwards, the acclaim for Carlo Ancelotti and this wonderful group of players is coming thick and fast. But as the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and James Rodriguez flourish, there are a host of talented youngsters struggling to make an impression in this team.

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One of those is Los Blancos’ young midfielder Asier Illarramendi, a player who rocked up at the Santiago Bernabeu as one of the brightest young playmakers on the continent, but now finds himself behind Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and Sami Khedira in the pecking order.

Perhaps then, it is no surprise to see him linked with a temporary switch away from the European Champions. According to AS, Italian giants AC Milan will ask about the prospect of taking the former Real Sociedad man—and somewhat optimistically—Isco to the San Siro on loan:

Given the marvellous recent displays showcased by the latter of the two in place of the injured Gareth Bale, he’ll be staying in Madrid. But for Illarramendi, a move to the Rossoneri and the prospect of regular first team football must be an enticing one. 

Here’s what the Milanistas could expect should the midfielder join up for the second half of the season:

Illarramendi made the switch to Madrid after shining for Basque outfit Real Sociedad. He was clearly a player that the then-nine-time European champions were desperate to get on board, for while he wasn’t really a household name at the time, the capital club splashed out a whopping £34 million to acquire his services and handed him a six-year deal, per BBC Sport.

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Given his patent for dictating play from deep with panache, Illarramendi was naturally touted as a potential heir to Xabi Alonso. But he’s yet to nail down a spot in the Los Blancos first team, and over a year on from making the switch, his development has been stinted by a lack of action. His role has changed drastically too.

Indeed, when quizzed on the 24-year-old earlier in the season after Illarramendi came off the bench to shore things up against Villarreal, Ancelotti chose to praise his defensive attributes rather than the elegant passing style that saw him shine at the Anoeta.

"We put Illarra in to avoid risks," the coach said, per Tom Conn of Inside Spanish Football. "He's more defensive-minded than James [Rodriguez]. We wanted to control the game, and he showed he was up to the task. He helped us come back in the game."

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Illarramendi has made one start and five substitute appearances for Real Madrid this season in the league, racking up a meagre 186 minutes of football in the process, per WhoScored. And while it’s all well and good praising his defensive diligence, he’s a player that has so much more to offer than strangling the life out of games late on.

It’s something Bleacher Report’s Sam Tighe touched upon recently:

Admittedly, it’s difficult to see the Spaniard forcing himself into this Madrid first team at this juncture. After a difficult start, Toni Kroos is growing into the role of playmaker extraordinaire, while next to him, Modric continues to showcase even more desirable facets to his game on an almost weekly basis.

Ancelotti has also insisted he’s keen on keeping Khedira despite ongoing speculation, per Richard Arrowsmith of the Mail Online.

If Madrid do see Illarramendi as a potential first-team player, they’d be best suited sending him out on loan. The player will be learning little from these brief cameos, even moreso when compared to the prospect of going out on loan to a club like Milan—one that Ancelotti has close ties with, too—and playing regular football at an iconic venue.

It'd be a wonderful setting for the player to re-establish his reputation as one of Europe's finest young playmakers. After a few months away from the Spanish capital in the crux of the Rossoneri midfield, he'd be much better placed to go back to the Santiago Bernabeu at the start of next season and stake a claim for a regular starting berth.