At the beginning of the 2023/24 season, Spanish record champions Real Madrid looked like one of those generational changes that have worked so smoothly in recent years because the team itself responded to the departure of superstars like Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema with a cohort of young talents. Toni Kroos, then 33 years old, five-time Champions League winner and three-time Spanish and German champion, often found himself on the bench.
Next to him sat Luka Modrić, 38, partner in countless football battles. Extremely physically strong players like Valverde, Tchouaméni and Camavinga pushed their way into the starting line-up. A few months earlier, Real had suffered a 4-0 semi-final defeat against eventual Champions League winners Manchester City. A cycle seemed to be coming to an end.
