It's finally the week leading up to the El Clasico and the footballing fraternity is gearing up for the biggest game in club football. Luis Enrique’s Barcelona will welcome league leaders Real Madrid, coached by French legend Zinedine Zidane who will be hoping to extend the lead on top of the table.
In this week’s ‘What If’ we look at the possible scenario in world football today if Neymar had actually signed for Real Madrid and Gareth Bale moved to Barcelona.
It is no secret that Real Madrid had been chasing Neymar for years before he signed for their arch-rivals Barcelona. However, Neymar signed for Barcelona and they went on to sign Gareth Bale for a world-record fee. However, Barcelona had also been interested in Gareth Bale since 2009 when the young Welshman started making strides in the Premier League.
Also Read: La Liga 2016/17: 5 reasons why Real Madrid will win the El Clasico
While Gareth Bale was flattered by this interest, Barcelona never made a formal approach to sign Bale and he moved to Real Madrid a few years later. Here is how today’s football scenario would be if Bale moved to Barcelona and Neymar to Madrid.
#1 La Decima could have been delayed
While there is no doubting Real Madrid’s calibre without Gareth Bale, the Welshman had a stunning first season with the Los Blancos and scored the winner in the Champions League final in Lisbon. His impact on the Real Madrid side was vital in their double that season under Carlo Ancelotti.
Had Real Madrid signed Neymar, things probably wouldn’t have gone the same way. While Neymar has progressed to become one of the best players in the world in the last couple of years, his first season at Barcelona was well below par. Neymar had taken a whole season to adjust to Spanish football and it would have been a similar story if he was to wear the whites of Real Madrid.
#2 Intense Rivalry between Argentina and Brazil
While we haven’t seen the most intense games between Brazil and Argentina in the past decade, the two South Americans giants have always been fierce rivals on the football field. Their rivalry stems from the rapid growth of football in South America and the rise of political tensions between the two nations.
However, in the past decade, the big players of Brazil and Argentina have played football in the same clubs. Lionel Messi shared the dressing room with Ronaldinho who was one of Brazil’s most important players while Mascherano, who is arguably the second most influential figure in the Argentina dressing room after Leo, has been teammates with Dani Alves, Neymar, Adriano and Rafinha.
Had Neymar joined Real Madrid, the tensions between Barcelona and Real Madrid could have led to tensions between their players which would have been transferred to the national team.
#3 Who would be the best trio of all time?
While it is still a topic that many football fans argue on, over the last few years the trio of Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi and Neymar has proven to be one of the best ever. The fact that the three players come from South American countries, share similar backgrounds and are great friends off the pitch is what sets them apart from the rest.
Had Gareth Bale been in Barcelona instead of Neymar, it is less likely that the Welshman could have had such a partnership with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez. Coming from a completely different footballing background and a country that has some of the best footballing facilities, Bale has experienced a different childhood in comparison to that of Messi, Neymar and Suarez.
Hence, had Bale moved to Barcelona, we would still be arguing between De Stefano, Gento and Puskas or Best, Law and Charlton or Van Basten, Gullit or Rijkaard.
#4 Neymar and Ronaldo could have formed a deadly duo
Very often we speak about players who bond off the pitch, and generally do well on the pitch. Neymar comes from a country that primarily speaks Portuguese, enjoys a lavish lifestyle and tries to keep up with the latest fashion. Another player who does that? – Cristiano Ronaldo!
Ronaldo and Neymar have similar styles of play and have often been criticised for their attitudes. Both come from countries that speak Portuguese, are seen as fashionable and have had their fair share of controversies. Neymar’s move to Real Madrid could have seen Ronaldo nurture the Brazillian into his successor not only for Real Madrid but for world football on the whole.
#5 A better season for Tata Martino
Tata Martino’s lone season with Barcelona was not the best. The Catalans went trophyless while their rivals Real Madrid lifted the Copa Del Rey and the Champions League. However, Martino’s season was hindered by injuries to important players. Lionel Messi had one of his worst seasons in the recent past, Neymar was still trying to settle in while Fabregas, Xavi and Iniesta's magic was fading away.
Real Madrid did not beat Barcelona in the league but managed to win when it mattered. Gareth Bale’s stunning goal against Barcelona in the Copa Del Rey finals is something that fans will not forget for years to come. The Welshman’s solo efforts single-handedly won Real Madrid the trophy while Neymar was wasteful of his chances on the night.
Had Barcelona signed Gareth Bale, Tata Martino would have probably had at least a Copa Del Rey to his name.
