Xabi Alonso hints Eder Militao could cover at right back for Real Madrid

Xabi Alonso has floated the idea of Eder Militao operating at right back if needed, citing the Brazilian’s past outings in that role and his Pepe-like competitiveness. The message is clear: Real Madrid will use what they have and play to Militao’s versatility. From my years on the pitch, I know how valuable that profile is when injuries, suspensions, or tactical puzzles appear. Whether to protect the flank or build with a back three in possession, Militao’s pace, timing and aerial strength give Madrid flexibility without tearing up the core of their back line.

In a recent media availability in Madrid, Xabi Alonso was asked about defensive options and acknowledged Eder Militao’s capacity to fill at right back when needed. Militao has previously featured on the right for Brazil - including a strong outing against Senegal - and has covered wide zones for Madrid during stretches when the squad required it. The context here is a crowded calendar and the need to adapt the back line without losing athleticism or dueling power.

🗣 Xabi Alonso: "Can Militao play RB? It's an option, we have to see what we have. I think it was against Senegal? He played right back for Brazil and did very well. He has that ability. He reminds me a bit of Pepe. He was competitive and you knew that wherever he played, he

@MadridXtra

Impact Analysis

There are two layers to this. First, the player profile. Militao is a center back by trade at Real Madrid, but he is explosive over five to ten meters, strong in recovery, and comfortable defending large spaces. That is the modern right back’s job against elite wingers. He wins aerials, attacks the ball early, and rarely gets bullied. I remember being shifted wide in big European nights - if you read danger quickly and time your step out, you look natural there. Militao has those instincts.

Second, the structure. If Madrid place Militao at right back, they can tilt the build-up into a back three with him tucking inside while the left fullback pushes high. That protects transitions and lets a midfielder like Valverde or Bellingham roam without exposing the back line. The trade-off is in distribution. Dani Carvajal offers more repetition in short combinations and overlaps, while Militao gives you power defending and dominance in the box. Against rivals who threaten the back post and thrive on crosses, Militao on the right raises your clearance rate and wins you second balls.

My read: this option is a tactical lever for specific opponents and game states, not a permanent switch. It signals trust in Militao’s versatility and keeps opponents guessing during prep.

Reaction

The fan buzz has been lively and split in a healthy way. Many praise Militao’s versatility and say he is ready to play wherever the team needs him. I saw several note that he has covered across the back line before and handled it calmly. One supporter even asked for him to start at right back in a marquee tie, seeing it as the cleanest way to neutralize elite left wingers.

On the flip side, a few voices want to keep the Rüdiger - Militao pairing intact at center back, calling it a blessing that locks down the middle. Their suggestion is to use Valverde as a hybrid on the right or pull a younger option from Castilla if width and overlaps are required. There is also a light-hearted thread comparing this Madrid group to Swiss Army knives, with quips that Militao could handle CB, RB, LB, even GK in a pinch. That tone captures the trust supporters have in his mentality and the squad’s resilience.

Overall, the community reads Alonso’s comments as pragmatic and confident, not as panic. They see a coach keeping options ready for high-pressure weeks.

Social reactions

He is versatile. He can play

Echoes-of Resilience (@WovenSteel717)

Please play him at RB against Manchester City Thank you

CITY BOY 😊 (@theboi_dela)

Sounds like he’s ready to slot in wherever the team needs him.🔥

shamara (@ShanikaMarambe)

Prediction

If Madrid tap Militao at right back, expect it in targeted matches where aerial control and 1v1 duels on the far side are non-negotiable. Think scenarios against sides who hit the back post early or whose left winger attacks the inside channel. In possession, Madrid would often show a back three with Militao sliding inside, leaving the far fullback to provide width while a midfielder supports short.

Carvajal still starts most games, especially when the plan calls for overlaps and combination play in the final third. But in away legs or late-game protection phases, Militao on the right becomes a closing tool. We might also see a rotation where Carvajal starts and Militao finishes the match to lock a lead. If injuries or suspensions hit, the shift becomes a bridge solution without sacrificing central solidity.

From my experience, once a staff publicly validates a player’s positional flexibility, it gets rehearsed on the training pitch immediately. Expect reps this week, pattern work on the right, and communication drills with the right-sided winger and the near-sided pivot to clean up distances.

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Conclusion

This is exactly the kind of quiet, sensible flexibility that wins tight games. Militao has the recovery pace to cover depth, the spring to clear at the back post, and the temperament to live in isolation against elite attackers. Carvajal offers more refined timing when you need controlled overlaps and patient circulation. Choosing between them is not about status, it is about match scripts.

As a former pro, I loved teammates who could switch lanes without losing their edge. It lets a coach adjust in 10 seconds without a substitution. Alonso’s nod to Militao at right back is not a headline grabber, it is a chess move for the nights when margins are thin. Keep the central pairing stable when possible, deploy Militao wide when the duel profile demands it, and make the opposition guess on the flanks. That is how you turn a strong defense into a flexible one across a long season.