The rumour mill often comes up with the biggest of surprises. ESPN claims that Real Madrid are hot on the tail of Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey and preparing a £25m bid for the 25-year-old in January. Well, this is a big one to digest but you never know what Real Madrid are up to in the transfer market. The Los Blancos have always been linked with the biggest players in the world and they going after Ramsey is not that big a surprise, or is it?
The Gunners are said to still owe Madrid £11m for the transfer of Mesut Ozil, a figure that could be taken from Ramsey’s transfer fee. On top of that, Real Madrid have Ramsey’s close pal and international teammate Gareth Bale in their ranks and Zidane reportedly wants to reunite the two Welshmen at Santiago Bernabeu.
The Guardian claims that Ramsey is a bit frustrated with his lack of opportunities at a central role. The Welshman is technically a box to box midfielder but Wenger likes to deploy him on the flanks mostly. Real Madrid are looking to use this situation to their advantage and are could lure Ramsey to the Spanish capital.
However, Ramsey would make a big mistake if he joins Real Madrid for regular opportunities in central midfield. With Toni Kroos and Luka Modric in the ranks of the 10-time European champions, Ramsey won’t get too many opportunities in an adventurous central midfield role.
Zidane usually plays the midfield trio with one defensive midfielder protecting the back four and two playing ahead of him in box to box roles. Casemiro is the first-choice in the defensive midfield role but Kroos had done pretty well in that role earlier this season after Casemiro’s injury.
Modric and Kroos are the first-choice in the two advanced roles and there are players like Isco, Kovacic and James Rodriguez who can also play in those positions.
Ramsey is 25 now and entering his peak years. He has all the qualities of a top midfielder. He is a very good passer of the ball, a brilliant crosser and knows where the goal is. Yes, we understand the reasons behind his frustration at Arsenal for not getting many opportunities in a central role but Real Madrid will be a wrong move for him, at least not now. He might consider a move to Bernabeu after two years when Modric goes past his peak but not now.
