Why Real Madrid Should Keep Denis Cheryshev in the Summer

Real Madrid loanee Denis Cheryshev continued his impressive campaign for Villarreal by coming off the bench to provide the assist for the second goal in their 2-0 victory at home to Granada on Saturday.

It was the ninth goal he has set up so far this season and one that moved him to within touching distance of a Villarreal record.

After an injury-ravaged campaign at Sevilla last season, Cheryshev has thrived at El Madrigal, gaining the confidence of coach Marcelino and receiving ample playing time both domestically and in Europe.

His return of six goals and 10 assists in all competitions, as per Soccerway, has played a big part in Villarreal’s successful season to date and could result in Madrid bringing him back into the first-team squad for next season.

AS reported in January that Madrid were keen for him to return—a feeling that was strengthened following his strong performance, and goal, in Villarreal’s narrow defeat to Barcelona at the start of February.

Jose Felix Diaz of Marca did, however, recently report that a definitive decision is yet to be reached. The progress of the 24-year-old is being closely monitored by the club, but his future will not be decided until the end of the season.

It is clear why Madrid might want Cheryshev back on board. Quick, direct and two-footed, his strong dribbling and powerful shooting have proved a menace to opposition defences throughout the season.

With Javier Hernandez set to return to Manchester United at the end of the season, Madrid will be left with just four out-and-out forwards—Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Jese Rodriguez and Karim Benzema—in their first-team squad. Cheryshev would offer a low-cost and La-Liga-proven solution to this deficiency.

There is even the possibility that he could be converted into the sort of role that Angel Di Maria occupied last season—that of a box-to-box midfielder whose pace and trickery in possession helps advance his team into the final third.

Indeed, as per Tomas Roncero of AS, it was Cheryshev’s “versatility and ability to take players on” that impressed Carlo Ancelotti during pre-season training ahead of the 2013-14 season and which ultimately convinced him to endorse the extension of the Russian’s contract through to 2017.

Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images

In the wake of Madrid’s embarrassing 4-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid on Saturday, Ancelotti made much of his side’s lack of intensity, criticising them for their “poor attitude” and “lack of drive.”

And if he wants to add a player to his squad whose allegiance to the club and desire to work hard to achieve his goals are undoubted, then Cheryshev could be his man.

The 24-year-old is a proud product of the Madrid youth system, with his passion for the club perhaps best illustrated by his choice of shin-pads throughout the current campaign.

The header photo on Cheryshev’s Twitter page carries the slogan “Negativity Doesn’t Live Here,” and he has certainly shown the right attitude to come back strong this season after his disappointments at Sevilla.

“Denis is a very stubborn boy,” his father Dmitri told UEFA.com in 2012. “You can be sure he’ll fight tooth and nail in order to prove that he can be a regular first-team player at Madrid.”

For his ability, his attitude and his determination to prove his worth to the club, Cheryshev deserves a chance to be part of the senior squad at the Bernabeu next season. He can only hope that the decision-makers at the club ultimately feel the same way.