Real Madrid usually dominate the headlines during transfer windows, as the club’s Galactico policy has brought some of the finest players in the world to the Santiago Bernabeu in the most eye-catching deals. This summer, however, marked the dawn of a new era for Los Blancos.
Madrid have had an uncharacteristically quiet transfer window, which is made even more remarkable by the fact that they still have a transfer ban looming over them. In reasons similar to what caused Barcelona’s transfer ban in 2015, there have been discrepancies that UEFA have found in Los Blancos’ acquisition of underage players.
The club have appealed against the ban, and are as such free to go about their business until the trial reaches a conclusion. However, Real have made just one major signing this summer, that of their academy product Alvaro Morata from Juventus.
We take a look at the key areas in the Real Madrid team, as the Champions of Europe seem to have left the Galacticos policy behind them under the stewardship of Bernabeu legend Zinedine Zidane.
1. Defence
Los Blancos first-choice back four consists of their two veteran centre-backs Sergio Ramos and Pepe, Brazilian left-back Marcelo and Spanish right-back Dani Carvajal. The quartet provide an excellent combination of pace, talent, skills, attacking threat and defensive resilience.
Captain Ramos, Marcelo and Carvajal have miles to go ahead of them, but Portuguese Euro 2016 hero Pepe is getting on in years. However, Real Madrid already have the perfect back-up for the 33-year-old in young French defender Raphael Varane. In fact, one of the most significant moves by Real this summer has been holding on to the 23-year-old despite interest from Manchester United and Jose Mourinho, the manager who brought Varane to the Bernabeu.
They also have Spanish central defender Nacho, as well as Portuguese full-backs Fabio Coentrao and Danilo as back-up. In goal, they have the ever improving Costa Rican keeper Keylor Navas and homegrown back-up in Kiko Casilla.
2. Midfield
This is an area that Zizou needed to work this summer, with an excess of talent on the bench. The first choice midfield trio of Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and Casemiro worked wonders in the latter half of last season. The Brazilian defensive midfielder Casemiro was promoted to the first team by Zidane and has become crucial, while Kroos and Modric are two of the best midfielders in the game right now.
Spaniard Isco has chosen to continue at the Bernabeu despite interest from former club Malaga as well as Tottenham Hotspur, while Croatian Mateo Kovacic is yet to show his class at Real since arriving from Inter last summer. Both provide good cover, with another Castilla graduate Marco Asensio shining under Zidane as well.
However, Real Madrid should have moved Colombian play maker James Rodriguez along. The 25-year-old was reportedly wanted by a number of top clubs, but he claims Real rejected an €85 million bid for him this summer. James is far down the pecking order under Zidane, but his talent deserves the chance to shine and he is not meant to warm the benches at the Bernabeu.
3. Attack
The BBC are still intact. Cristiano Ronaldo is recovering well from the injury that took him out of Portugal’s triumphant Euro 2016 final, Gareth Bale is fresh off a brilliant campaign in that competition with Wales, and Karim Benzema is looking to show France just what they’re missing out on after excluding him from the national side.
This is the only area where Zidane has strengthened, as Real exercised their €30 million buy-back clause on Alvaro Morata. The young Spaniard will be battling for a place alongside the BBC, with another academy product in Lucas Vasquez providing additional attacking cover.
THT Verdict:- 5/10
Although Zinedine Zidane is leading Real Madrid down an exciting new path, a transfer window must be judged on the transfers made. Zizou may be keen on changing the way things are done at the Bernabeu, but a sole signing of their own youth product is not a transfer window that inspires.
The transfer of Jame Rodriguez is another matter that Real Madrid should have attended to. The Colombian play-maker is no use to them warming the bench, and the massive transfer fee they would’ve received for him could have gone into purchasing a new player.
Los Blancos would have done well to recruit an experienced attacker capable of playing on both wings, as back up to Bale and Ronaldo. The transfer window was a hit and miss affair, but the hope is that Zizou will carry on in style from winning the Champions League in his debut season as manager.
