One of the biggest clubs in footballing history, can you handle the pressure of the Real Madrid hot seat on FIFA 21 Career Mode?
Madrid are looking for back to back La Liga titles for the first time since 2008, are you the person for the job?
Squad
Real Madrid boast one of the strongest squads in the world, but there is still room for improvement.
Starting XI
Real Madrid are set up to play some variation of a 4-3-3, so that is what we have gone with to start off.
The back four is solid. Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane are two of the best centre backs on the game. Right back Dani Carvajal is second only to Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Ferland Mendy’s pace make him a top left back.
In goal is giant Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois to round off a formidable defence.
Real Madrid’s midfield three has been top-class for a number of years, but we have just started to see a decline in Luka Modric’s ratings. Casemiro and Toni Kroos remain the other top world class operators in the middle of the park.
The forward line has many options, but Karim Benzema and Eden Hazard should be two of the first names on the team sheet. The right-wing spot is up for grabs with plenty of options in the absence of Gareth Bale, but we would start with Marco Asensio.
Bench
Andriy Lunin (OVR 75) is the obvious back-up goalkeeper with no other GK quite ready for first team action.
There are defensive options to choose from, but Brazilian pair Eder Militao (OVR 80) and Marcelo (OVR 83) are the two we would select on the bench.
Once again there are plenty of players to choose from in midfield. Uruguay star Federico Valverde (OVR 83) is a must-have on the bench. A more attacking midfield option is Isco (OVR 84), so he is also worth keeping in the squad.
There is only room for one winger on the bench, so we have gone for Vinicius Jr. (OVR 80) for his extra pace. Luka Jovic (OVR 80) is the obvious back-up to Benzema, so he has to make the bench.
Reserves
There are still plenty of players capable of playing first team football in the reserves.
Experienced defender Nacho Fernandez (OVR 80) is a useful player to have due to his versatility.
Youngsters Rodrygo (OVR 79) and Martin Odegaard (OVR 83) are top of FIFA 21 Career Mode’s brightest talents and can easily slot into the Starting XI.
Lucas Vazquez (OVR 80), Alvaro Odriozola (OVR 79) and Mariano (OVR 77) are the other players with first team experience, although they will be squad players if you decide to keep them around.
Tactics
Both full backs will be joining in the attack, so it is important to ensure Casemiro stays back while attacking.
You could even set the Brazilian to drop between defenders to create three at the back whilst in possession.
Setting Karim Benzema to false 9 will ensure his link up play comes into effect. The French forward is great on the ball and can create space for the quicker forwards by dropping deep.
Transfers
With Gareth Bale out on loan and a number of top stars not getting any younger, some new arrivals can rejuvenate the squad.
Out
Raising funds will not be a priority for Madrid, but you can free up some wages by offloading two or three stars that will see limited game time.
Lucas Vazquez and Mariano are two players that are expendable on FIFA 21 Career Mode. Another one is Alvaro Odriozola, although his 82 potential may convince you to keep him in the squad.
There are also plenty of young players to either loan out or sell depending on your preference but choose wisely as you don’t want to offload a future star.
In
With the likes of Valverde and Odegaard coming through, the midfield is set for years to come. The same can be said for the wingers with Vinicius Jr., Rodrygo and Marco Asensio.
Don’t forget about the players out on loan either. Gareth Bale, Dani Ceballos, Takefusa Kubo, Reinier and Brahim Diaz are all set to return to the club after season one.
Your budget can focus on bringing in the very best. For a club like Real Madrid, Kylian Mbappe (OVR 90) and Erling Haaland (OVR 84) should be high on your transfer list.
Training
Wingers Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr. should be priorities when you are putting together your training sessions.
Match Sharpness is crucial so you will want your first team training regularly, but fringe youngsters like Valverde and Odegaard have high potentials so don’t neglect them either!
Japanese teenager Takuhiro Nakai is a future star too so make sure he gets some sessions in.
Real Madrid Squad List
Player | Age | Position | Club | Country | OVR | POT | Value | Wage |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T. Courtois | 28 | GK | Real Madrid | Belgium | 89 | 90 | £73.8m | £225k |
S. Ramos | 34 | CB | Real Madrid | Spain | 89 | 89 | £30.2m | £270k |
Casemiro | 28 | CDM | Real Madrid | Brazil | 89 | 89 | £81.5m | £279k |
K. Benzema | 32 | CF ST | Real Madrid | France | 89 | 89 | £75.2m | £315k |
T. Kroos | 30 | CM | Real Madrid | Germany | 88 | 88 | £78.8m | £279k |
E. Hazard | 29 | LW | Real Madrid | Belgium | 88 | 88 | £80.6m | £315k |
L. Modric | 34 | CM | Real Madrid | Croatia | 87 | 87 | £32.9m | £234k |
R. Varane | 27 | CB | Real Madrid | France | 86 | 88 | £65.3m | £198k |
D. Carvajal | 28 | RB | Real Madrid | Spain | 86 | 86 | £55.4m | £207k |
Isco | CAM CM LW | 28 | Real Madrid | Spain | 84 | 84 | £38.3m | £189k |
F. Mendy | LB | 25 | Real Madrid | France | 83 | 88 | £44.6m | £144k |
F. Valverde | CM | 21 | Real Madrid | Uruguay | 83 | 90 | £66.2m | £122k |
Marcelo | LB | 32 | Real Madrid | Brazil | 83 | 83 | £22.5m | £153k |
M. Odegaard | CAM CM | 21 | Real Madrid | Norway | 83 | 89 | £52.7m | £122k |
M. Asensio | LW RW | 24 | Real Madrid | Spain | 82 | 86 | £39.2m | £144k |
N. Fernandez | CB RB LB | 30 | Real Madrid | Spain | 80 | 80 | £15.8m | £122k |
Vinicius Jr. | LW | 19 | Real Madrid | Brazil | 80 | 93 | £45m | £86k |
E. Militao | CB | 22 | Real Madrid | Brazil | 80 | 87 | £36m | £104k |
L. Jovic | ST | 22 | Real Madrid | Serbia | 80 | 85 | £29.7m | £126k |
L. Vazquez | RW RB | 29 | Real Madrid | Spain | 80 | 80 | £18.5m | £149k |
Rodrygo | RW | 19 | Real Madrid | Brazil | 79 | 90 | £34.2m | £81k |
A. Odriozola | RB | 24 | Real Madrid | Spain | 79 | 82 | £19.8m | £99k |
Mariano | ST | 26 | Real Madrid | Dominican Republic | 77 | 78 | £11.3m | £113k |
A. Lunin | GK | 21 | Real Madrid | Ukraine | 75 | 87 | £10.8m | £45k |
H. Duro | ST LM | 20 | Real Madrid | Spain | 68 | 80 | £2.6m | £8k |
H. Vallejo | LM RM | 20 | Real Madrid | Spain | 68 | 81 | £2.6m | £29k |
Marvin | RW | 20 | Real Madrid | Spain | 68 | 80 | £2.6m | £32k |
Arribas | CAM RM LM | 18 | Real Madrid | Spain | 64 | 80 | £1.4m | £8k |
V. Chust | CB | 20 | Real Madrid | Spain | 63 | 74 | £878k | £14k |
Altube | GK | 20 | Real Madrid | Spain | 63 | 80 | £990k | £10k |
T. Nakai | CAM | 16 | Real Madrid | Japan | 62 | 86 | £1.1m | £3k |
Canizares | GK | 18 | Real Madrid | Spain | 62 | 78 | £810k | £2k |
B. Iglesias | CAM | 17 | Real Madrid | Spain | 59 | 81 | £630k | £2k |
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