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Real Madrid’s history of prospecting in France is a long one, with many of the club’s greatest legends having played in Le Championnat at one time or another.
Legendary forward Raymond Kopa was among those to feature at the Bernabeu, having started his career in Ligue 1, while in more recent times Zinedine Zidane, the current head coach, graced the Champions League winners having started his career in his homeland.
At present, Madrid boast two players who have featured previously in France’s top flight; Raphael Varane and Karim Benzema.
Here are five more stars who Real Madrid would be well served to look at in the coming months.
#5 Malcom (Bordeaux)
His name might not be widely recognised outside of France at the moment, but that will surely change in the months ahead as the young Brazilian attacker has been quite simply outstanding for a Bordeaux team that has started the season well.
He has five goals and four assists for the campaign in just 10 matches, and there is already a sense that Bordeaux are beginning to rely on his offensive production an unhealthy amount. When he missed the weekend’s fixture against Amiens, for example, they suffered a 1-0 reverse.
Several clubs courted the winger in the summer, but he could improve the depth of the Real Madrid squad offensively as he offers the profile that could make an instant impact and at 20 boasts the potential to become world class.
#4 Adrien Rabiot (PSG)
Real Madrid have a long history of having classy midfield players and Rabiot would simply add to that. He boasts all the attributes one would expect of a player at the club, as he is comfortable in possession, strong and physical out of it, while he is brave enough to drive forward with the ball at his feet.
The France international, who is just 22, has already indicated that he does not expect to spend his whole career at PSG, and that should have piqued the interest of Zidane, who will be well aware of the player’s qualities.
He is already proven on the Champions League stage and has been PSG’s best player this season aside from Neymar.
#3 Issa Diop (Toulouse)
Another highly promising young man in Ligue 1 is Toulouse centre-back Issa Diop, who is just 20 but has already attracted immense praise for the way he has handled himself since breaking into the first team.
Standing at 6ft 4in, he is an extremely physical defender, with strength and athleticism his main suits. It would be easy to see him acting as an option for the likes of Sergio Ramos or Raphael Varane.
He has been linked with the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City in the past because he is well built to play in the style of a Premier League, but he would also be a capable figure at the Bernabeu.
#2 Tanguy Ndombele (Lyon)
Since trading Amiens for Lyon in the summer, Tanguy Ndombele has been one of the revelations of the season in Ligue 1. Amiens were unlikely promotion winners last season but could not hold onto one of the young men who drove them into Ligue 1, with Lyon swooping to capture him on loan for the season for just €2 million.
It already seems inevitable that they will pay €8m to sign him on a permanent basis after a terrific start to the season. The 20-year-old has been the mainstay of their midfield, eclipsing even Lucas Tousart, and has shown that he has the mindset to make it to the top.
A clutch of clubs should be keeping close tabs on him – and Madrid must ensure they are among them.
#1 Radamel Falcao (Monaco)
While Radamel Falcao would not feature in Real Madrid’s strongest XI, he would provide an interesting option for them. The Colombia international is now fully over his serious knee injury and is a leading contender in the race for the Golden Boot this season, having scored 13 times already this season in Ligue 1.
If he was to be willing to sacrifice regular football, he could become a terrific option for Real Madrid off the bench.
One of the few areas in which they are lacking is in depth at centre-forward, and while there have been links with Madrid trying to lure Mariano Diaz back to the Bernabeu (he has eight goals for Lyon so far this term), Falcao, already proven in Spain, would be an even better option.
