According to Express, Real Madrid are having second thoughts regarding their pursuit of prime Barcelona target Neymar. It is mainly because they already have the duo of Gareth Bale and James Rodriguez. The Spanish giants famously pulled the plug on Bale’s proposed move to China last month while Zinedine Zidane reportedly sees Rodriguez as a vital part of the Madrid attack this season.
But, should Los Blancos really keep hold of these two attackers instead of signing a quality winger like Neymar?
How each of them could benefit the Madrid attack?
Bale is regarded as one of the most athletic players on the planet. His electric pace coupled with his ability to make darting runs into the opposition half makes him a genuine threat, especially on the counter. He was notably a crucial part of Zidane’s forward line along with Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo that helped Real Madrid win three back to back Champions League titles.
Rodriguez, meanwhile, is more of a creative player, who is capable of creating chances in the final third. He can thread through balls in behind the defence as well as provide useful crosses from the far side. Most importantly, James is a versatile attacker as he can play almost anywhere across the final third. He is, however, most comfortable playing in a central role.
As for Neymar, he is easily one of the top five players in the world. The Brazilian international has had immense success ever since his breakthrough at Santos. He is mainly known for his pace and trickery on the flanks.
He can deceive any defender with his quick feet while the 27-year-old is also capable of playing quick one-twos with his teammates. He has a knack for scoring goals as well – making him a well-rounded winger.
How each of them has fared recently?
Form is essential for any football player, and unfortunately, Bale has struggled the most among the three. The Welshman suffered a lot of injuries throughout his spell at the Bernabeu. In fact, he is yet to surpass the 2,000-minute mark in the league in any of the last four seasons. The 30-year-old also mustered only 1,790 minutes of football last campaign, scoring eight goals.
Rodriguez, on the other hand, enjoyed an impressive debut campaign in the Bundesliga during the 2017/18 season. He scored seven goals and provided 11 assists, helping Bayern Munich retain their dominance in the Bundesliga. However, the Colombian international struggled under Niko Kovac the following campaign, even though he was involved in 11 goals.
And finally, Neymar has the best record among the three, having been involved in as many as 80 goals in just 58 competitive matches for PSG. However, he could be a gamble to an extent given his poor injury record. In fact, the Brazilian has struggled with 12 different spells on the sidelines during his time in Paris. And given his hefty valuation, it is perhaps wiser for Real Madrid to bank on the duo of Rodriguez and Bale this season.
