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16 points. That is what differentiates Real Madrid and Barcelona at this point in time. The way the Galacticos have been playing and the way Barcelona are strengthening, it is only a matter of time for us to witness the Blancos putting up a guard of honour for the Catalans in their next meeting in the league.
However, there is still hope. There is always hope. 3-4 bad games for the Catalans and the opposite for Madrid could bring them back in the hunt. But for now, the league should be considered as done and dusted.
The next challenge is beating Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League and winning the competition for the third time in a row. For that, the Blancos need some saving—and here are 5 players who could save this season for the Galacticos.
#5 Mohamed Salah
This is something that is making the rounds currently. Apparently, Florentino Perez is looking to get even with Barcelona as the Catalans have signed Philippe Coutinho. The president wants a Galactico of his own and has targeted Salah as a result.
Although it is highly unlikely that he would be signed in this window, there is a good chance that he could save the club should he be. If Salah joins, he would play on the right, letting Gareth Bale go to his natural left side and allowing Cristiano Ronaldo to take up the role of the centre-forward.
Indeed, this way, all three players would be in their best positions and we could see the Blancos firing from three cylinders. The goalscoring ability of the trio could ensure that the Galacticos end up with 60 goals in the next 6 months—all coming from their boots.
#4 Mauro Icardi
Another one of those players that has been linked with the Madrid outfit. The Inter forward is enjoying his peak years and could still improve as he is only 24. In him, the Blancos will have a striker that already scores at a great rate.
Last season, Icardi scored 26 goals from 41 games only and is already on 18 from 22 this season so far. The Italo-Argentine will only get better with age and could become a genuine goalscoring hub, running parallel to the likes Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Robert Lewandowski.
Also, his inclusion will not require any tweaking of the system as he will slot in straight for Karim Benzema in the striker’s role. This will also lead to Madrid not heavily relying on Cristiano Ronaldo for the goalscoring.
Finally, Icardi’s ability to bring in his team-mates will greatly help the aforementioned Portuguese and Gareth Bale, leading to all three reaching their best.
#3 Eden Hazard
This a trickier signing given that he will come in and take up the left-wing, which is preoccupied with Cristiano Ronaldo. Nevertheless, Hazard’s move could push Cristiano Ronaldo up top and also let the Belgian play in his best position.
Speaking of players that could really lift Madrid, there are only a handful who could do so—and Eden Hazard is one of them. The former Lille winger’s trickery has been wowing the world for the better part of the decade and it would help any team in the world.
He has rejected two new contracts from Chelsea in order to push a move to Real Madrid. While he might not have the scoring instincts of Cristiano Ronaldo, he is certainly is a better support player than the Portuguese.
His ability to create chances from the left will greatly benefit the Blancos, who often lack the creativity in the final third.
#2 Harry Kane
A gut feeling says that this will eventually happen—it is written in the cards. Over the years, the best players of Tottenham Hotspur have landed to Real Madrid. First, it was Luka Modric and then it was Gareth Bale.
And now it could be Harry Kane. However, he is going to cost a lot of money—around the £200 million mark—and Madrid might just spend it. After all, it is a long time coming—and for someone who broke the goalscoring duopoly of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to become the highest scorer in 2017, it is worth it.
The Englishman’s ability to score from nowhere and create chances on his own has bailed Spurs many a time. Indeed, he doesn’t look as flashy as some of his peers, but when it comes to effectiveness, he is simply the best number 9 out there.
At Madrid, he will have better players around him—and that could unleash his absolute best, saving Madrid in the process.
#1 Kepa Arrizabalaga
If we looked at the rumours and evaluated each of them, then Kepa to Madrid looks like the most likely transfer to happen in this window. The Blancos rarely sign important players in January, but Kepa’s arrival would be an anomaly to the earlier claim.
Keylor Navas is a good goalkeeper, but he is highly eccentric and hasn’t been able to display his Levante-level of concentration. Indeed, against Barcelona in the Clasico last month, he made some brilliant saves to deny the Catalans in the first half, but easily let one past him with Luis Suarez’s opening goal.
As a result, Madrid need someone stable to defend the posts—and Kepa is the only realistic and feasible option at this point in time. The Atheltic Club shot-stopper is perhaps the best goalkeeper in Spain after Marc-Andre ter Stegen and is really young, which leaves the doors open for improvement.
Saving goals saves matches—and Kepa is becoming a pioneer at it.
