'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Real Madrid are the most decorated and successful club in the history of European football, having won a record 13 Champions League/European Cup titles.
It's no surprise that the club has played host to some of the biggest names in footballing history, including Zinedine Zidane, Alfredo Di Stefano, Raul, Roberto Carlos, Ferenc Puskas and the two Ronaldos, to name a few.
The ongoing summer transfer window has arguably been the most entertaining in recent history. While Real Madrid have sold the likes of Raphael Varane and Martin Odegaard in the summer window, they’ve not had much activity in terms of incoming transfers.
Deadline day is fast approaching, with Real Madrid linked with the sensational transfer of Kylian Mbappe. With just two days remaining in the summer transfer window, it remains to be seen if Real Madrid can land their star man.
On that note, here's a look at the five last-minute transfers Real Madrid have completed over the years.
#5 Julien Faubert
Julien Faubert is undoubtedly one of the greatest flops in the all-whites of Real Madrid, after completing his loan move to the Santiago Bernabeu on transfer deadline day.
The former Martinique international completed a move to the Spanish capital on the final day of the 2009 winter transfer window. Faubert, though, could only register a 54-minute appearance, as he looked like a fish out of water in Real Madrid’s star-studded lineup. He became more famous for his antics off the field than on it.
Faubert infamously dozed off during Real Madrid’s game against Villarreal, and he even missed training the next day. In his defence, the full-back said that he only had his eyes closed because of boredom. Faubert mistakenly thought he had a day off, which resulted in him missing Real Madrid’s training session.
Despite being a loan signing, Real Madrid had to pay around €1.5 million in loan fees to secure Faubert’s services from West Ham United. The contract also included an option to buy, but Real Madrid sent him back to London after just six months.
#4 Michael Essien
Former Chelsea man Michael Essien was brought to the Spanish capital on a loan spell in the summer of 2012 by Real Madrid.
After an impressive spell at Stamford Bridge, Essien followed his former boss Jose Mourinho to Real Madrid. The duo had previously worked together during a three-year stint at Chelsea. Both were pivotal in establishing Chelsea as one of the top clubs in England and Europe.
They won four titles during Mourinho’s first spell at Stamford Bridge, and the Portuguese was extremely impressed by Essien’s work rate in the middle of the park. Mourinho, who was appointed the Real Madrid manager in 2010, signed Essien two years later.
However, things didn’t exactly go to plan, as Essien was sent back by Real Madrid at the end of his season-long loan spell. The former Ghana international registered 35 appearances for Real Madrid, producing a return of two goals and a solitary assist.
Essien joined forces with Jose Mourinho once again for the 2013-14 season, during the Portuguese’s second spell in England.
#3 Gareth Bale
Real Madrid completed a then-world record £90 million transfer of Gareth Bale on the final day of the 2013 season-opening transfer window.
The transfer was literally completed in the last few minutes of the summer transfer window, as the Welshman was officially announced on 1st September. The transfer window ended on the 31st of August that year, as is generally the case.
Tottenham Hotspur’ current chairman Daniel Levy, is one of the best negotiators in the transfer market, so Florentino Perez could only convince the British businessman to sell his star man in the final hours of deadline day.
Real Madrid also had a similar experience while courting Luka Modric. Daniel Levy played hardball, and only let his star player leave four days prior to deadline day. Bale was more important to Tottenham’s cause than Modric, so it is no surprise that Levy tried to hang on to the superstar for as long as he possibly could.
Gareth Bale has been one of Real Madrid’s most underrated players in the last decade. The Welshman played a part in four Champions League titles, two La Liga and four FIFA Club World Cups, to name a few. Bale has scored 106 goals and provided 68 assists in 254 appearances for Real Madrid.
#2 Ronaldo Nazario
To date, Ronaldo Nazario is considered by many to be one of the greatest strikers of all time. The Brazilian completed his historic move to Real Madrid on deadline day.
Los Blancos acquired the services of the Brazil legend on a €45-million transfer from Inter Milan; Ronaldo marked the start of the first Galacticos era at Madrid. The Galactico transfer policy was the brainchild of Florentino Perez, who brought the likes of Luis Figo, Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham, Robinho and Ronaldo to the Santiago Bernabeu as part of the first batch of Galacticos.
Ronaldo Nazario was coming fresh off a successful 2002 FIFA World Cup campaign, so Inter Milan were keen to cash in on their superstar. The Brazilian would be awarded the 2002 Ballon d’Or award and The Best FIFA Men’s Player accolade the same year.
Ronaldo hit the ground running almost immediately at Real Madrid, playing a pivotal role in La Liga and Supercopa de Espana glory in his debut season at the club. In 177 appearances for Real Madrid during his five-season-long spell, Ronaldo was directly involved in 138 goals (103 goals, 35 assists).
#1 Sergio Ramos
Arguably, Sergio Ramos is Real Madrid’s best deadline day signing of all time, as he emerged as one of the most decorated players in the club’s history.
The Spaniard was regarded as one of the finest full-backs in La Liga during his time at boyhood club Sevilla. In 2005, Florentino Perez was about to step down from his position at the end of his first spell as chairman of Real Madrid. However, he decided to secure one last signing before his departure, which was also arguably the last signing of the first Galacticos era at Real Madrid.
Sergio Ramos was touted as a player with incredible potential, and was tipped to be a starter for Real Madrid in the coming years. Ramos moved to the Spanish capital on a €27 million transfer on the deadline day of the 2005 summer transfer window. He emerged as a modern Real Madrid great and also one of the most successful captains in the club's history.
Ramos, who won a host of trophies during his long-16-year association with Real Madrid, was an immovable force in their defence. He won four Champions League titles, five La Liga, two Copa del Rey and four FIFA Club World Cups, to name a few.
Sergio Ramos, now at PSG, is also one of the highest-scoring centre-backs in modern football. He tallied 101 goals and 49 assists in 671 appearances across competitions in the all-whites.
