Real Madrid are planning something huge this summer as the club gets back to buying ways after serving a transfer ban of one year. Though the Los Blancos don’t have a shortage of world-class talents in their squad, Zidane looks to have already started preparing for life after Ronaldo at Santiago Bernabeu as he targets Chelsea superstar Eden Hazard.
With a number of ageing players in the squad, Real Madrid knows well that these players would be disposed of in the next few seasons; and when that happens they want to make sure that they still remain strong enough. Cristiano Ronaldo is already 32 and though he signed a contract recently that keeps him till 2021, we don’t expect the Portugal star to remain at the club beyond two seasons (yes a speculation from my part, sue me).
Among the other positions that are expected to go for a change, next season would be that of the goalkeeper. Keylor Navas has been quite efficient under the bar this season, but given Real Madrid’s populist democracy and the incoming elections this summer, Florentino Perez wouldn’t take any chances and go for the best; and Thibaut Courtois fits the bill perfectly. Real Madrid have been an admirer of the Belgian shot-stopper since his Atletico Madrid days and given the form that he is in, he can restore their Galacticos status.
As per reports, Real Madrid are willing to offer their star striker Alvaro Morata and midfielder James Rodriguez to lure the London club. As far as Hazard and Courtois are concerned, Real are pretty confident they can give the Belgian duo, the world-class status and wages they wouldn’t turn their back on, although both have refused to leave the London club anytime soon.
While Courtois would get his place easily in the first-team, accommodating Hazard to the side would be a huge concern for Zidane. Hazard likes to play on the left flank, where Ronaldo plays now, and given his top form, Zidane can’t start him from the bench. Ronaldo has the 2018 World Cup in sight and given the stature he enjoys at Madrid, the only way to fit in both of them would be pushing Ronaldo up.
Besides, Hazard can be devastating from the forward left role. He has scored eight goals and registered three assists when Antonio Conte has played him there.
Hazard is 26 and Courtois, 24, which pretty much secures Real’s Galacticos stature for the next five seasons without any doubt and that explains their desperation in trying to land this Chelsea duo.
