Real Madrid are not at all accustomed to missing on any of their transfer targets, such used to be the reputation of the 11-time Champions League winners. The Champions League holders won’t be happy with the fact that arch rivals Barcelona beat them for the signature of long-term midfield target Andre Gomes.
Real Madrid are now looking for alternatives to the 22-year-old Portuguese international and have turned their attentions to want-away Newcastle United midfielder Moussa Sissoko if reports from The Newcastle Chronicle are to be believed.
One good tournament can change your whole career and Sissoko is a case in point. Didier Deschamps’ decision to select the Newcastle star for the Euros came under massive scrutiny but the Frenchman turned out to be one of the Les Bleus’ standout performers in the tournament. Such was Sissoko’s impact that in-form Kante was left out of the starting XI in the last few games of the tournament.
The Newcastle Chronicle claims that the race for the 26-year-old is heating up as Juventus, Everton and Real Madrid have all registered their stern interest in the Frenchman. If Zidane can bring in his compatriot to Santiago Bernabeu this summer, it would be some journey for the player from a side that suffered relegation last season in the Premier League to a club that was crowned champions of Europe for the 11th time in their illustrious history.
In Sissoko, Real Madrid will get a perfect squad player who can play anywhere in midfield and will prove to be a key player over the course of the season thanks to his versatility. Versatile players are always valued highly in modern football but often it could cause to be a curse for an individual. Sissoko being versatile and a team player did not help him flourish at St. James’ Park last campaign as he was mostly played out of position by McClaren.
Sissoko was regularly deployed out wide on the right flank week in week out under McClaren and quite expectedly failed to perform. The arrival of Rafa Benitez gave life back to the Frenchman’s career who used him mostly as a number 10. Even though Sissoko could not inspire Newcastle to stay up on his own, eight assists from 37 games while netting one goal despite playing out of position was a decent record.
Sissoko would be acting as Zidane’s trump card at Real Madrid if the deal does materialise. He will be the player who can cover both Modric and Kroos. Against more physical sides, Sissoko would provide the Los Blancos with the muscle in midfield. Capable of playing out wide or even as number 10, Sissoko will offer Zidane the freedom to switch his tactics during the game.
Sissoko moving to Real Madrid from Newcastle would be one hell of a story and the player will owe it to Deschamps who kept his faith in the 26-year-old despite his off-season with Newcastle.
