Real Madrid galactico: the accounts to bring in Mbappé, Haaland and even Cristiano Ronaldo
With regard to the attacking line, we need guaranteed strikers who are unbalanced and proven goalscorers. And give opportunities to Raúl's generation that won the Youth League, from Real Madrid Castilla.
Meanwhile, the goalkeeping is the only line that is perfectly covered.
Meanwhile, the defence needs replacements and to know with certainty the future of Ramos and Varane. In addition, Marcelo, Odriozola and Militao are not to the coach's liking. He does not count on them unless there is an emergency. This means that the rest of the squad is loaded with games and there will be continuous injuries.
It seems certain that Carvajal, Nacho and Mendy will continue in this line-up. But there are five players whose futures are not certain in this line-up. It is also unclear what is certain about the incorporation of Alaba and whether Zidane will give confidence to Víctor Chust (Castilla captain and centre-back) and Miguel Gutiérrez (left-back and Raúl González's right-hand man at Real Madrid Castilla).
My opinion is that we need to sell Militao and Odriozola, who for one reason or another have not performed as well as expected. And renew Varane, as his performance has been magnificent and if he leaves it will be difficult and expensive to find a replacement of his level.
Also renew Ramos, but within the logic. He is 35 years old, recently operated on. If he doesn't come to his senses, we thank him for his great services and we save a salary of almost 23 million a year including taxes. If he continues, perfect, but this time next year there will again be a "Ramos issue".
The Marcelo issue is very complicated. He has been one of the best left backs in the history of Madrid. He earns 8.5 million euros and plays practically nothing. It seems that in the last few months he has been in top physical shape, but injuries have penalised him when Zidane was finally going to count on him. My opinion is that he should continue, but organising, managing his time well. Provided he is physically fit and, of course, that he does not hinder the progression of Miguel Gutiérrez from the reserve team.
Lucas Vázquez can also be considered a defender. He has played most of the season at right-back. It seems clear that he will leave the team as due to his age this is going to be his last big contract and despite earning more than three million euros there are teams offering him more. I would try to keep him for the great year he has had, but it is also true that he spent almost two years unnoticed after the Champions League years where he contributed positively.
My bet would be Carvajal and Lucas Vázquez on the right, Varane, Nacho, Alaba and Víctor Chust as centre-backs, Mendy, Marcelo and Gutiérrez on the left. We paid 50 million for the transfers of Militao, Odriozola and Vallejo. We saved 10 million in salaries. Total: 60 million.
The midfield is at a very high level, in fact, it is carrying all the weight of the team. Kroos, Casemiro and Modric is a trio that comes out of the blue when the line-up is announced. But it's a miracle that there are no injuries. Also a lot of hard work and professionalism.
Alongside the three starters we can add Valverde and Martin Odegaard. Let's see if Zidane can find the key to get the Norwegian to perform like he does away from Madrid. Slowly but surely, Antonio Blanco, the Castilla midfielder, should be brought in.
Isco seems destined to leave the team. He is not even a shadow of the player who was the rudder of the Spanish national team. Ceballos has no continuity at Arsenal and has already had plenty of opportunities at the Bernabeu.
His departures from the club would bring about 60 million plus 9 million in salary savings and would not cut the progression of youth players.
Kroos, Casemiro, Modric, Valverde, Odegaard, Blanco and the possibility of adapting Asensio, Marcelo or Lucas Vázquez to the midfield.
The forward line is the one where the club must make a big effort. With all due respect Real Madrid have the most limited forward line of almost all the teams that have qualified for the quarter finals of the Champions League. Benzema and pray the Frenchman doesn't get injured. That is the bet this year.
Asensio is not quite back to his best after his serious injury. Vinícius is like a rollercoaster and lacks definition. Rodrygo is also injured.
Of Mariano, Jovic, Mayoral and Bale we can only say that it is unlikely that they will ever play in this team again.
Brahim, Kubo and Reinier are bets for the future and not only have to earn a place in their current teams, but they have to stand out. As do, for example, Llorente and Mario Hermoso at Atlético de Madrid. If not, their return is unthinkable.
The special case of Eden Hazard has to be treated in a cold way and giving priority to economics over footballing feelings. Hazard has been a great player at Chelsea, but he was signed too late at Real Madrid. The club must keep a cool head and think that the player is currently worth 40 million and that he will never reach his best level again. Next year he will be worth 20 and the year after that he will be worth zero.
Real Madrid must have a minimum of four guaranteed strikers and at least three of them superstars. We have Benzema and it would be reasonable to bring in Haaland and Mbappé. If Cristiano also returns, it would be unbeatable. The new stadium deserves it. There was already an era of galacticos.
To be able to undertake this investment, the first thing to do is to think about what we have amortised and sold in defence and midfield. That would be 130 million excluding Marcelo.
The departure of Mariano, Jovic, Bale and Borja Mayoral would bring in around 75 million euros. Total income with "expendable players" (in my opinion, don't get upset): 220 million. If we add to this the departure of Hazard, then 260 million.
Mbappé has a market price of 180 million, but they don't take into account that he has only one year left on his contract with Paris Saint-Germain. I wouldn't pay more than 100 million. We already did it for Hazard and it went wrong. But Mbappé is 22 years old. The marketing and advertising department has to evaluate the revenue his arrival would bring.
Erling Haaland is valued at 110 million, but the reality is that his price could be around 180 million. He is the best on the market as a finisher. Lewandowski is not for sale and he is already 32 years old, Haaland 20.
The Cristiano Ronaldo issue is more of a remote idea in which Madrid should not show any interest unless he is offered for a reasonable price, no more than 30 million and a salary of no more than 20 million.
All in all, without Cristiano to bring in Haaland and Mbappé, the total cost would be 280 million. The salaries would be offset by the departures of Bale and Hazard, and the possible sale of Kubo, Brahim and Reinier.
Practically a difference of 20 million. Totally affordable.
If we also want Cristiano, we would be another 70 million short. Then Vinícius, Asensio and Rodrygo would be part of the deal. Vinícius would be the most suitable for price and demarcation on the pitch. Although second halves were never good. It would be better to sign a long-range midfielder like the Frenchman of Algerian descent Houssem Aouar. For 30 million he would arrive at the Bernabeu and his salary would not exceed 4 million.
Haaland, 180 million, Mbappé 100 million, Aouar 30 million.
Hazard, Ceballos, Isco, Militao, Odriozola, Jovic, Mariano, Borja Mayoral, Vallejo.
With these moves, it would take no more than 50 million euros to build a galactic squad: Courtois, Lunin, Carvajal, Lucas Vázquez, Varane, Alaba, Nacho, Mendy, Gutiérrez, Chust, Kroos, Casemiro, Modric, Valverde, Odegaard, Blanco, Arribas, Aouar, Benzema, Haaland, Mbappé, Vinicius, Asensio and Rodrygo.
Cristiano and Marcelo depend on other moves. Priorities Haaland, Mbappé, Alaba and Aouar. There is talk of Pau Torres (Villareal centre-back), Koundé (Sevilla centre-back), Camavinga and Pogba. I think the priority and what the team needs are guaranteed strikers and that's what the club should focus on.
The team has aged and is wearing out. The replacements of the last few years have not worked. Only Mendy is an undisputed starter, although he is not the ideal full-back for the team. Vinícius, Rodrygo and Asensio, between injuries and ups and downs, are not starters. They alternate and Zidane is patching up the forward line, where only Karin Benzema is a permanent fixture. In defence, Nacho and Lucas Vázquez are the guaranteed replacements that the coach is using with the injuries to Ramos and Carvajal. The midfield needs replacements for Modric and Kroos, above all.
The fans also need new incentives and a bit of euphoria after a catastrophic year in social terms due to the COVID.
The new stadium will be extraordinary, but it will need sporting success and the illusion of madridismo with new stars. The new galacticos.