Buying Lucas Silva for €15 million last January was probably a bit premature. Luka Modric was injured, Real Madrid needed a midfielder because of Illarramendi's poor performances and Carlo Ancelotti wanted Silva. Turns out that the Brazilian wasn't ready to step up either, meaning that he will need to spend a season on loan a la Casemiro, with FC Porto reportedly being the team with the most interest in the player.
Benítez has no doubts about it. Silva doesn't deserve to be a part of this roster. Today, the Spanish coach held a meeting with every midfielder on the roster -- that is Modric, Kroos, Casemiro, Illarramendi and Marcos Llorente -- but Silva himself. Benítez wanted to explain something to his players, but Silva wasn't there even though Llorente, who will play for Castilla next season, was required to stay on the pitch and listen Benítez's instructions. The Brazilian player is almost certainly going to leave the club this summer on a loan deal, club sources told Managing Madrid.
If Lucas Silva is on his way out, Real Madrid probably need to sign another midfielder unless Benítez trusts Illarramendi more than Ancelotti did.