Real Madrid should have signed Aston Villa star Youri Tielemans when Toni Kroos retired, as the Belgian is now the ‘total midfielder’.
That’s according to analyst Filip Joos, [via Voetbal Nieuws](https://www.voetbalnieuws.be/news/852951/filip-joos-zot-van-rode-duivel-als-real-hem-haalt-), who has lavished praise on the Aston Villa midfielder.
Tielemans is now a key player under Unai Emery at Aston Villa after initially struggling to establish himself following his arrival on a free transfer in 2023.
He had arrive with a big reputation after his time at Leicester City but struggled to prove himself in Aston Villa’s midfield packed with talent.
The departure of Douglas Luiz last summer saw Tielemans become a key player for Aston Villa last season, though, making 53 appearances in all competitions and managing five goals and ten assists in total.
He appears to have hit his peak at 28-years-old and is now very much te player that many had expected him to be after coming through the ranks at Anderlecht and making a big money move to Monaco in 2017.
Joos is certainly impressed with him now and believes Real Madrid should have been knocking at Aston Villa’s door when Toni Kroos departed.
“I keep saying it: if Real Madrid had signed him when Toni Kroos left, a lot would have been resolved,” he said on a video for Play Sports.
“I think he’s a fantastic player. What strikes me every time is how much he can do, how much power he has. Not just in going deep, but also in defending. He’s become a ‘total midfielder’.”
“For me, he was in the Premier League ‘Team of the Year’ last year,” added fellow analyst Frank Boeckx.