Life after Real

There is life after Real Madrid - a fact being demonstrated by those players who left the 'Los Blancos' club last summer. The change of lifestyle has been very positive for Higuaín, Callejón and Albiol in Napoli, Özil in Arsenal, Carvalho in Monaco, and Kaká in Milan. Ozil found his feet straight away at the Emirates. Arsenal is top of the Premier League thanks to his left foot, with which he has scored three goals and set up six more. The German is also the player with the highest number of shirt sales in the UK.

Napoli is again dreaming of the 'Scudetto' title courtesy of Callejón, Albiol and Higuaín. The Argentine forward no longer has to rotate for starter status. He has scored eight goals in 14 games. Callejón is not far behind, with seven goals in 16 games. Albiol is also a regular starter, not the fourth centre-back, as he was in Real Madrid. He has played in 14 ties, all in the starting eleven, helping him to keep his place in the Spanish national team.

Kaká is also smiling again in Italy, still set on making it to the World Cup in Brazil. Across the Alps, Carvalho is the omnipresent player in Monaco. The Portuguese centre-back, at 35 years old, has not missed a single minute of the Ligue. Playing alongside him is the former Real academy player Fabinho, who has been in the starting line up for nine matches. The exception to the rule is provided by Essien, having only played in two League Cup matches with Chelsea, and Adán, who continues to train separately from the team in Marbella, waiting for an offer.


/Marca/