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Given the woeful underperformance of Real Madrid during the course of the 2018/2019 season, it comes as no major surprise that a wholesome clear-out of the squad is expected in the summer.
The status of the Spanish giants as one of the biggest clubs in the world means that fans of Los Blancos are more attuned to seeing their darling team contest for major honors, but in a major departure from the norm, the club struggled massively, posting numerous unwanted records and ending the season on a low.
The club has been linked with a host of marquee names, as Zinedine Zidane embarks on a rebuilding phase which would blend the new signings with those who survive the mass exodus.
Real Madrid would be looking to reclaim their status as the top club in the world, with the mission to dethrone Barcelona as league champions being of primary importance. In this piece, we shall be taking a look at four new arrivals that could make Real Madrid unstoppable next season.
#4 Eder Militao
Eder Militao is a 21-year-old defender whose arrival at Real Madrid from Porto is imminent, having completed a six-year €50m transfer in March of 2019.
Despite having just one season of European experience under his belt, the former Sao Paolo man had seemingly done enough to convince the Real hierarchy of his suitability to their plans moving forward.
The Brazilian international is primarily a center-back and is expected to provide competition for Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane at the heart of defense, but his versatility also means he can be deployed at right-back or as a defensive midfielder.
Militao possesses excellent crossing abilities and wonderful technique on the ball, while his tenacity and imposing physique means he is a physical presence in both boxes and he could potentially add defensive solidity to a Real Madrid backline which did little to inspire confidence over the course of the just concluded season.
#3 Luka Jovic
Once famed for its attacking prowess, Real Madrid showed a toothlessness in front of goal during the just concluded season, going over 400 minutes without a goal at a point in the campaign, while their total tally of 64 La Liga goals was their worst return domestically in almost two decades.
Of all the world beaters within its ranks, only Karim Benzema was able to hit double figures, with the Frenchman showing a renaissance of sorts while his teammates all flattered to deceive.
A key pointer to Real’s profligacy in front of goal was the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo, as for nine seasons at the Bernabeu, the Portuguese icon was nothing short of extraterrestrial, possessing a knack for scoring goals at will and the club was undoubtedly better off for it.
His departure left a huge void and none of the players onboard stepped up to the challenge and this lack of goals was a major reason why Real Madrid faltered.
It is here that the impending arrival of Luka Jovic portends good news, as while the Real players were struggling, the Serbian international was flourishing in the Bundesliga, banging 17 goals from 32 matches to help Frankfurt qualify for the Europa League next season. His 10 goals on the continent (joint-highest) was the driving force behind his club’s push to the last four of Europe’s second-tier club competition.
Indeed, his total of 27 goals in all competitions last season was significantly more than any Real Madrid player bar Benzema managed and as such, the club must do all within its powers to sign the highly rated forward.
Luka Jovic could potentially be the solution to Real Madrid’s scoring woes and if he can be the figurehead to getting the club back to being the goal machine they were, there could be no stopping Los Blancos heading into the future.
#2 Eden Hazard
If Eden Hazard was to have gotten a dollar for every time he saw his name linked with Real Madrid in the transfer tabloids, he would be a millionaire (not that he isn’t one already, but you get the point).
For at least the last four years, no summer transfer window would be complete without the mention of Hazard going to Real Madrid every other day, only for nothing to come out of said speculations.
This window however offers arguably the best chance for Eden Hazard to complete his dream transfer, with the otherwise unmovable Ronaldo no longer present at the club (as his presence always meant Hazard’s arrival was unlikely), while the fact that the 28-year-old is entering the final year of his contract puts Chelsea under intense pressure to sell him now.
The former Lille man is coming off the best year of his career, having inspired and captained Belgium to a third-place finish at the World Cup which saw him awarded the Silver Ball in Russia, while also making it to the FIFPROXI for the first time and posting his best ever Premier League goals contribution in the just-concluded season.
He would undoubtedly be a great addition to Real Madrid, helping to cushion the impact of Ronaldo’s departure (albeit on a lower level) and even though the Spanish side are unwilling to match Chelsea’s £100m valuation, the fact that they risk losing him for free after next season could force their hand into playing ball with Florentino Perez.
#1 Kylian Mbappe
At just 20 years, Kylian Mbappe has already achieved in his short career what many greats of the past and present have failed to attain over long spells.
The World Cup winner is already a bonafide superstar and has shown a maturity and composure which belies his age, playing and holding his own on the biggest stages.
The former Monaco star took on the mantle of leadership for PSG in the absence of Neymar and Cavani and was deservedly named the French Ligue 1 Player and Young Player of the Year, having scored 32 league goals over the course of the campaign to help the Parisians to a never-in-doubt league title.
However, the inaugural Kopa award winner stoked the embers of speculation during his receipt of the best player award when he suggested that he was down to accepting ‘more responsibility’ at PSG or elsewhere and this was interpreted as a come-and-get-me plea to Europe’s biggest sides (read Real Madrid) which was so telling that PSG was forced to issue a statement of rebuttal.
Regardless of the attempt at damage control, the message is already out there – Mbappe is not entirely convinced about the PSG project and this must come as sweet music to the ears of the Real Madrid powers-that-be.
Zinedine Zidane is a known admirer of his compatriot, having proclaimed his fondness of Mbappe numerous times in the past, and while the 2017 Golden Boy winner would not come cheap, he is undeniably the star of the future and a Ballon d’Or winner in waiting who would undoubtedly strengthen any team he joins – Real Madrid included.
