Real Madrid went all guns blazing in the build-up to the 2019-20 season spending nearly €300 million on the likes of Eden Hazard, Eder Militao and Luka Jovic to name a few. Los Blancos have seemingly made investments that are meant for the future rather than the present.
The club have also raised a few eyebrows over the work executed by the sales department at the Santiago Bernabeu. Marcos Llorente, who was the only deputy to Casemiro in the squad, was allowed to leave for a fee in the region of €30 million. Even more surprising, Llorente was sold to Atletico de Madrid! This has not gone down well with a large section of the Real Madrid faithful.
Mateo Kovacic, who was known to be a like-for-like replacement for an ageing Luka Modric, was allowed to join Chelsea for a fee just shy of the €50 million mark. The player had already spent a season on loan at Stamford Bridge before making his move permanent.
Zidane seems to be facing difficulties in integrating these set of players with high pressure from the local Spanish press and the ever-demanding Bernabeu audience.
The 4th Official reviews all the significant activity carried out by Real Madrid’s in the transfer market.
Arrivals
Eden Hazard
The player is yet to make his competitive debut for the club after picking up an injury just before the season commenced. Hazard’s return from injury is widely awaited as it will be interesting to see how Zidane’s side lines-up with the big-money signing from Chelsea.
Luka Jovic
Jovic is a young and extremely talented striker. The attacker attracted praises with his exploits in the Bundesliga last season for Frankfurt. However, it’s still early days in his Real Madrid career, and he is yet to get off the mark.
Eder Militao
Militao was one of Real Madrid’s first signings of the summer and was announced way before the 2018-19 season came to a close. The defender has not yet made a competitive appearance for Real Madrid.
Ferland Mendy
The left-back signed for Real Madrid to deputise for Marcelo. However, in his first start for Real Madrid against Villareal, he was extremely impressive. The player will most likely overtake Marcelo in the race for the left-back spot before the season comes to an end.
Rodrygo
The Brazilian was considered one of the hottest prospects in his native country before Real Madrid completed the move. He is currently nursing an injury and is expected to make a return by mid-September. The former Santos player scored a free-kick in a pre-season friendly.
Alphonse Areola
The goalie has signed for Real Madrid on loan from Paris Saint Germain in a deal which saw Keylor Navas join the Parisians permanently. Areola is not expected to play a massive role at the Santiago Bernabeu this season.
Departures
Sergio Reguilon
One of Real Madrid’s biggest revelations of last season, Reguilon was loaned out to the Andalusian side, Sevilla. The player has been a stand-out performer at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan with two MOTM performances already.
Keylor Navas
The Costa Rican goalie’s future was uncertain at Real Madrid ever since the arrival of Thibaut Courtois. The ex-Levante shot-stopper eventually made the switch to Paris Saint Germain on deadline day in a deal worth €15 million.
Marcos Llorente
It might just turn out to be a decision Real Madrid will regret down the years. Marcos joined Atletico de Madrid in the summer window much to the disappointment and awe of the Real Madrid supporters across the globe.
Mateo Kovacic
The Croatian midfielder completed a €45 million switch to Chelsea and got the money rolling for Zidane & Co to splurge in the transfer market.
Theo Hernandez
After spending just two seasons at the club post joining from Atletico de Madrid under controversial circumstances, Theo was allowed to leave the club and join AC Milan. The player spent one season with the Real Madrid squad and was loaned out for the next season.
Dani Ceballos
The Arsenal loanee has already found life good at the English capital as his head-turning display against Burley made the fans aware of what a talent they have at their disposal for the season. Real Madrid would be in a good position to either sell or get him back in their squad if Ceballos has an excellent season for the Gunners.
