Grading the summer transfer window - Real Madrid?

It is not usual to see a world where the transfer window has gone absolutely berserk and Madrid are not at the centre of it. This is a club that is responsible for starting most of the madness that we see today in the transfer window without actually being a part of it now.

However, despite not making any big-money deals, the Blancos had a good summer where they saw their midfield and defence strengthened even further, which also makes up for the depleted attack because if the pre-season and the international football have taught us anything, it is that we are going to see Isco and Marco Asensio in a lot more advanced roles.

This will allow them to unlock their goal-scoring potential to the fullest. Asensio already has 4 goals from 5 games while Isco scored a brace in his first game as a false-9 for Spain.

So, here is an attempt at rating the transfer dealings of the Merengues of this summer (free and future transfers not included)…

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OUTS

Mariano Diaz

He might have been a third-choice striker with the Blancos, but he was actually a much-liked player in many quarters of the fanbase. Some believed him to better than even Alvaro Morata and were convinced that Madrid shouldn’t let go of him at any cost.

Turns out, they did – and it was for a mere €8 million to Lyon. In his first four games for the French outfit, the Dominican has scored 3 goals – including a goal on his debut – and is already starting to gain the status of a hero in Parc Olympique Lyonnais.

While Madrid at least got a lot of money for Morata, selling Mariano for such a cheap price is something that is inscrutable and might go on to hurt them in the future. It is for this reason that his sale has to be considered as the worst for the club this summer.

Grading: 1/10

Alvaro Morata

Morata became Real's record sale

Zinedine Zidane was never too keen on letting Alvaro Morata go, but the Spaniard’s insistence to leave the Galactico for more playing time tied the hands of the club. In the end, Los Blancos received a good €80 million for their talented striker and the former Juventus man also got his move.

However, what can’t be denied is that his departure leaves a gaping hole at the club. Last season, Morata scored 20 goals despite his limited appearances and it is going to take some effort for Zidane’s men to replicate those goals in the academy graduate’s absence.

What makes his sale even harder to take is that the Blancos didn’t sign a natural number 9 and kept Borja Mayoral instead. As a result, I rate this as a poor decision and give a 4/10 rating.

James Rodriguez

James is now loan at Bayern

He was supposed to leave last season but stayed on for another year in order to fight for his place in the team. It turned out to be a mixed decision as he ended up winning two trophies, but didn’t get to play the minutes that he had expected.

Isco’s blast to full-motion by the end of last season was enough to convince the Colombian that his bid to be the first-choice player at the Bernabeu just reached the dead-end. And so he decided to leave, but with no club willing to pay his hefty transfer price, Real had to let him go to Bayern on a loan deal that could see James join the Bavarians for a puny €45 million by the end of it.

This is a straight €35 million loss for a player that is actually world-class and has a lot of years of football left in him. James might have truly been a surplus to the club, but he does a better job in the final third than some of the players that are already there.

However, his behaviour wasn’t always the best and so it was the right thing to let him go, but the financial loss is the real defeat for the Madrid outfit.

Grading: 5/10

Danilo

Danilo's best game for Madrid came at left-back

Now, if you ask any Madridista as to what they thought about the Brazilian, they would almost certainly come up with two words: good riddance. Danilo was a rockstar back in his Santos days and took his game to another level in Portugal.

However, after joining Real Madrid, he couldn’t progress any further – despite being given ample amount of chances – and with the World Cup ahead, decided to leave the Galacticos. Playing for Manchester City in Pep Guardiola’s revolution, Danilo might as well go on to become the player that many thought he would be.

At the end of the day, however, this was a great deal for all parties concerned as Real Madrid actually made a profit of €1.5 million while also had a readymade replacement in Achraf Hakimi.

Grading: 8.5/10

INS

Borja Mayoral

Mayoral scoring against Benfica in the youth Champions League

When he was shipped off on loan to Wolfsburg, a lot of people expected him to come back and become a mainstay at the Bernabeu. And they couldn’t be blamed for such a thought, could they? Mayoral was breaking records at youth level and was dubbed as the next Raul during his stable progression in the lower ranks.

A move to Germany was akin to another canterano, Dani Carvajal's, journey as the Spanish right-back played at Bayer Leverkusen for a year before being bought back to become the best right-back in the world along with Dani Alves.

However, Mayoral’s time at Wolfsburg was forgettable, but he has been kept due to the sale of both Mariano Diaz and Alvaro Morata. The trust placed on him was so much that Zidane refused to sign a backup and chose to keep him at the club.

So far, he hasn’t shown any signs of improvement and it is going to be a long season for both the fans and the player should things not change.

Grading: 4/10

Marcos Llorente

Llorente against MLS All-Stars

When Marcos Llorente was shipped off to Alaves on loan last season, many didn’t expect him to be playing at the Bernabeu as a Real Madrid player the following year. And yet, here we are with Marcos Llorente as one of the members of the team and a firm fan-favourite.

Despite not playing much for the Blancos – his way has been blocked by Mateo Kovacic and Dani Ceballos – the fans rate him very highly and some even consider him as a better alternative to the brawns-over-beauty of Casemiro.

He was perhaps the best player of Alaves last term and there is no doubt that he will get his chances with the Galacticos – and given the talent that he possesses, it could be safe to claim that he will take them and prove his worth to the French manager.

Grading: 7/10

Dani Ceballos

Ceballos is now a direct competitor to Kroos

After his performances in the U21 European Championship earlier this summer earned him the best player of the tournament award, both Madrid and Barca fans were raring to see him play in their colours. Of course, Madrid won in the end and signed a wonderful talent for their squad.

However, the fact that Madrid already had a fully-decked midfield made this signing a little absurd. There is a question about the talent of the former Betis man, but the need of such a player at the club is always going to be under scrutiny.

This is a club where Mateo Kovacic – a supreme talent – can’t find a run of games as a starter, so signing Ceballos on top of that doesn’t really make much sense. However, his talent and the low cost makes him a relatively good investment and a 7/10 signing.

Jesus Vallejo

Vallejo had a great time in Germany

After 10 years of providing dedicated service to the club, Pepe left the Bernabeu after the expiration of his contract. With his departure, Madrid had only three recognised centre-halves in the form of Raphael Varane, Sergio Ramos and Nacho.

So, obviously, a fourth defender was needed – and Jesus Vallejo was kept after returning from his successful loan spell at Frankfurt. The former Zaragoza starlet is regarded by many as the best centre-back produced by Spain after the legendary Carles Puyol.

Vallejo is an exceptional talent, but his game is very raw and is constantly beaten in the air. His tactical intelligence and ability to read the game make him a great potential and with time, he will mould into an indispensable starter alongside Raphael Varane at the heart of the defence.

Grading: 7.5/10

Theo Hernandez

Theo Hernandez against Barcelona

And the most expensive outlay of Real Madrid this summer has been Theo Hernandez from Atletico Madrid. Such is the talent that the left-back possesses that Madrid actually broke the verbally-agreed gentlemen agreement with Atleti regarding player transfers to sign the former Alaves loanee.

Ever since the continuous absence of Fabio Coentrao due to injuries, Madrid have lacked a left-back to provide cover for Marcelo. However, that search has now ended with the addition of the French-Spaniard. Theo is an insanely fast full-back that has bags of raw potential and the desire to learn.

In his early games, his crosses might have been infuriated some, but the talent is there – and the Madridistas know it. For an initial fee of €24 million, Theo represents a brilliant signing for the Merengues as they look forward to world domination over the next few years.

Grading: 9/10