Real Madrid won't bring Marcos Llorente back to replace Casemiro

It looks like Real Madrid need another defensive midfielder to replace the injured Casemiro, but they won't be bringing Marcos Llorente back from loan to do it. There is no clause in Llorente's loan deal that allows him to leave Alaves and return to Real Madrid in January, so he will stay at the newly promoted club for the remainder of the season despite reports out of Spain that Zinedine Zidane wanted to bring Llorente back.

"My aim is to return in a year's time," Llorente told Marca. "Right now my focus in on Alaves. There is no clause that allows me to return in the winter transfer window and that has been said by [Alaves sporting director] Sergio Fernandez."

Real Madrid have failed to win their last three matches, a stretch that began as soon as Casemiro was injured. The problem for the Merengues is that Casemiro is their only defensive midfielder so they truly don't have anyone else to fill his role, let alone match his quality.

Casemiro will only miss three more weeks, but Real Madrid are now acutely aware of how vulnerable they are without him. If the Brazilian gets hurt again, simply needs a rest or is suspended, they will find themselves back in this situation. Having Llorente, a 21-year-old defensive midfielder who came through the Real Madrid academy, would have provided the Merengues with the backup they need, but Zidane said earlier in the season that they thought it was more important for Llorente to play his first full season in La Liga to continue his development.

Llorente will play each week at Alaves so long as he stays fit. But the decision to loan Llorente out leaves Real Madrid desperate for Casemiro to stay fit because Llorente isn't returning to the Bernabeu this season.

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