Is the galactico era over at Real Madrid? Eden Hazard has suffered from injuries and looks short
of his best, while Gareth Bale is out of favour and on huge wages. The old model, academy
players mixed with the world’s finest and most expensive, has been replaced; instead,
Real Madrid have, in the short term, moved to a policy of signing younger players with
high potential.
Some of this is driven by the successes of Real’s South American expert Juni Calafat,
who has headed scouting in the region since 2014. He’s been the driving force behind
the signings of Vinicius Junior, Reinier, and Rodrygo. Alongside this, Real have recruited
talents like Federico Valverde, Eder Militao, Marco Asensio, and Dani Ceballos.
The legacy of the galactico approach is still very present, though. Ramos, Kroos, Benzema,
Marcelo, and Modric are all over 30 and while they can still perform at the highest level,
thoughts will be turning to their replacements.
And other gaps remain. Luka Jovic’s move has not worked out, but who in the Bundesliga
apart from Hertha Berlin has both the inclination and the capital to bring him back to Germany?
There is no permanent back up to Courtois in goal, although Andriy Lunin impressed on
loan at Oviedo.
And, as ever, there is Florentino Perez, the autocratic president who has stated that Real
will not spend big due to pandemic-related financial constraints, but still hankers for
bringing in the world’s best. In the short-term, Real will use returning loanees like Alvaro
Odriozola, who will be Carvajal’s understudy, Odegaard, and Ceballos. But buying young players
with potential also makes sense, even if Real can shift Bale, Rodriguez, and Jovic. With
that in mind, here are two positions we feel they should be looking at.
Benzema had an extraordinary La Liga season, one of only two Real players [with Ramos]
to score in double figures. But someone of his calibre is a must – Real don’t just
need someone who can score, but who also works to facilitate the attacking moves of others.
If money were no object, Real would look to Kai Havertz. The Leverkusen attacking midfielder
can play as a striker, is incredibly quick, creative, and is both young and already among
the world’s most exciting players. He’ll drop off to pose a threat from deep with his
ability to drive at defences, or to arrive late onto crosses. Benzema is not a pure number
9, and replacing him with 12 goals, six assists Havertz makes sense tactically. He also made
3.6 shot-creating actions and 0.48 goal creating actions per 90 – one of the last two actions
immediately preceding a shot or a goal – in short, he’s an elite, if hugely expensive
player. If Real have the money, though, he’s ideal.
A less expensive option, and a slightly different one, is Goncalo Paciencia of Eintracht Frankfurt.
He’s scored seven and assisted four in just under 1300 minutes, but it’s his movement
that makes him interesting. Like Benzema, Paciencia is often drifting into the left
channel to receive the ball, working well with Eintracht Frankfurt’s strong left-sided
attack, but he also has the strength to receive the ball in the air. Talented, tactically
suitable, and less expensive; he’s a good option.
Our pick, though, is Sevilla’s Carlos Fernández. He’s not Real’s quality yet, but he’s
experienced in La Liga, got 11 goals and four assists in his last campaign, on loan at Granada,
and can play as either a right inside forward or a striker. He’s mobile and gets across
the front line, linking play, pushing little through balls into a centre-forward – Roberto
Soldado last season - or arriving in the box to score himself.
He’s quick, too, and looks like a genuinely interesting, possibly attainable prospect.
Again, if Real could spend big, they’d do well to spend it on Pau Torres. Villareal’s
23 year old centre back has a lovely range of passing with his left foot, is quick over
the ground, and defends proactively. His one-on-one defending could improve and he’s not the
most physical centre back, which is why suggestions of a move to the Premier League seem premature.
But he’s excelled in a blossoming Villareal side – the only issue being that he’d
cost a lot and Villareal are a team building momentum who would be loath to lose an asset.
A less obvious pick is Guillermo Maripan, Monaco’s Chilean defender who is right-footed
but can play on either side of the defence. A 6ft4, 26 year-old, Maripan is a more physical
suggestion, and less elegant on the ball, but his 89% passing accuracy is good even
if he’s more conservative. He made 6.3 blocks or clearances per 90 last season and also
rarely makes errors. He’s not someone you’d build a defence around, but for an option
to come in, not make mistakes, and hold their own physically, he’d be ideal.
Our pick, though, is Real Sociedad’s Robin Le Normand. The 6ft2, 23 year-old right footer
can play either side of the defence. He made 6.5 blocks or clearances per 90 last season,
is brave in the air, and again, while not an exciting passer of the ball, completed
89% of his passes. He has a slightly odd running style and looks a little clumsy, but there’s
no one in the Real Socieded defence who spends more time scanning the pitch, organising the
line, or who reacts better to danger. This is his first full season of La Liga but he
already looks like a very switched-on, smart defender who could blossom into a genuinely
strong player.