Jorge Valdano: 'Real Madrid will miss Angel di Maria, Xabi Alonso'

Jorge Valdano believes that former club Real Madrid will 'miss the consistency' of recently-departed duo Xabi Alonso and Angel di Maria.

Alonso joined German giants Bayern Munich earlier this summer, while Di Maria completed his £59.7m move to Manchester United last week.

"Xabi Alonso was a much-needed player at Real Madrid due to his positioning and sacrifice," Valdano told Cadena SER. "He is a very intelligent player and gives the feeling that he handles the rest of the team like a herd.

"Xabi Alonso and Di Maria represented consistency, the thinking of the collective - one through his intelligence and one through his intensity."

Madrid fell to a 4-2 defeat against Real Sociedad on Sunday.