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Real Madrid announced the signing of 21-year-old Serbian striker Luka Jovic from Eintracht Frankfurt on Tuesday. The club secured the services of Jovic for a reported fee of around €60 million and he has signed a six-year deal with Los Blancos. Jovic was previously on loan at Frankfurt from Benfica before the German side made the move permanent a few months ago.
After struggling to find his feet at Benfica, Jovic showed his calibre during his tenure in Bundesliga. The Serbian took the German top flight by storm, bagging 17 goals and 6 assists in the Bundesliga. Jovic also scored 10 goals in the Europa League, helping Frankfurt rach the semi-finals.
Owing to his exploits in front of goal, Jovic was one of the most sought-after players in Europe. At just 21, he is already showing signs of a prolific goalscorer. Jovic is known for his efficiency in front of goal and generally operates inside the box. He can shoot from both feet and is also a great header of the ball.
On the other hand, Real Madrid endured an abysmal season after the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo last summer and were in dire need of a goalscorer. Jovic fits the bill perfectly but it remains to be seen whether he can truly deliver the goods in Spain.
With all of that in mind, let us a look at the major winners and losers from Jovic's latest move:
#4 Winner: Zinedine Zidane
Zinedine Zidane made his intentions clear to bring reinforcements when he returned for a second stint at the Santiago Bernabeu. It goes without saying that Real Madrid struggled in front of goal after the departure Ronaldo to Juventus. Karim Benzema tried his best but he was the only one to step up in the 2018-19 campaign for Los Blancos.
It goes without saying that Zidane's predecessors - Julen Lopetegui and Santiago Solari - had fewer options than him. Mariano Diaz was brought in last summer but he struggled to find a place in the starting line-up. Jovic's arrival will be a major boost for Zidane, who will be relieved to have an efficient finisher at his disposal.
#3 Loser: Karim Benzema
Karim Benzema proved that he can still deliver the goods, owing to his goalscoring exploits in the 2018-19 campaign. The French striker ended last season as La Liga's second-highest top scorer with 21 goals, along with Barcelona's Luis Suarez. He ended the season with 30 goals and 11 assists in all competitions and won the faith of Los Blancos faithful by single- handedly dragging the team out of trouble at times.
In the absence of Ronaldo, the forwards needed to step up and unfortunately, only Benzema managed to do that on a consistent basis. With Mariano far from being a regular starter, the 31-year-old was the undisputed number one striker in the squad. But with Jovic's arrival, things can change quickly for the Frenchman.
Jovic has the potential to become a serious challenger for the first-team spot if he brings his Frankfurt form to Spain. It remains to be seen how Zidane uses Benzema and Jovic, but it's certain that the Frenchman's place in the squad is no longer guaranteed.
#2 Winner: Luka Jovic
Luka Jovic's meteoric rise to fame attracted many of European heavyweights, and moving to Real Madrid is clearly a huge step up in his career. Moreover, he is just 21 and he will have time on his side to prove his calibre at the Santiago Bernabeu.
On the tactical side, Jovic will get more chances with the superior squad of Los Blancos than he got at Frankfurt. Playing in front of the likes of Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and Isco will have it's own benefits, and the presence of efficient wingers will likely to be a major boost for Jovic.
The playing style of the Spanish giants is more direct during their attacks but it fluctuates between wing-play and possession-based football at times. Jovic has proven himself to be a threat at the edge of the opposition box and he is also a good header.
Moreover, playing for Real Madrid will also provide Jovic opportunities to lift more trophies in the future and he will also be a lot closer to winning individual awards. It remains to be seen whether Jovic clicks with Los Blancos, but he is a striker who ticks all the boxes and fits the bill to make his mark at Real Madrid.
#1 Loser: FC Barcelona
Arguably, the biggest losers, following Jovic's move to Real Madrid are their arch rivals Barcelona. It is no secret that the Blaugrana were after Jovic initially, but the player himself chose Los Blancos over them.
Although Suarez racked up 21 goals in La Liga last season, he is not getting any younger. Suarez turned 32 this year and it is crystal clear that he is not the player he once was. The Catalan giants had no back-up for the Uruguayan ace, and the absence of depth in the forward line proved decisive in the Champions League and Copa Del Rey.
While missing out on a talented forward like Jovic is a setback, losing him to their bitter rivals will be a more difficult pill to swallow for the Blaugrana hierarchy. Moreover, the dearth of world-class poachers will make it difficult for Barcelona to find Suarez's replacement.
It remains to be seen whether Jovic can truly make his mark at the Santiago Bernabeu but if he does, Barcelona will definitely regret missing out on the player.
