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#2 No squad depth
With respect to their goals and assists contributions, Real Madrid off-loaded 39 goals in the summer transfer window with the departure of James Rodriguez and Alvaro Morata. Bale’s fitness problems and Benzema’s form have meant these goals could not be replaced within the starting eleven.
The decision to go into the season with just 20-year-old Borja Mayoral as Benzema’s backup seems more inexplicable by the day, while the pursuit of Mbappe lacked a single minded zeal to get the deal across the line.
It is clear that the Madrid squad will be reinforced in the summer. Perhaps a galactico or two can be expected, considering that the last truly superstar signing was that of James in 2014. Zidane’s strongest options to change a game off the bench; Asensio and Vazquez are regularly being tasked with starting roles.
Bernardo Silva, Ilkay Gundogan, and Sergio Aguero/Gabriel Jesus are some of the options Manchester City can bring off the bench. Robben and Ribery are not guaranteed starters at Bayern either. To hold their own against the best in Europe, Real need a better equipped squad than the one they currently possess.
