Real Madrid’s 2022–2023 campaign did not proceed as planned. Los Blancos ultimately finished second in La Liga, and their UEFA Champions League run came to a disastrous end. They therefore went into the summer transfer market in an effort to strengthen their team.
While they mostly concentrated on acquiring players, several exits shocked both the club and the supporters. Real Madrid ultimately had to make the necessary adjustments, and based on their most recent results, they appear to have done a respectable job.
Los Blancos finished second in the La Liga standings in 2022–2023, and they were easily defeated by Barcelona in the championship game. Even though the league did not go as planned, they were quite a force in the Champions League.
Real Madrid once again advanced to the semifinals of the top club championship in Europe. They faced Manchester City, and everything went according to schedule in the first leg. However, Pep Guardiola’s City destroyed Los Blancos 4-0 in the return match. Even if they did win the Copa del Rey, their level of success fell short of their high expectations.
The 2022–23 season’s failure provided the club’s staff with a clear understanding of what needed to be accomplished in the summer transfer market. The plan was simple: bring in a young, elite striker who could fill in for Karim Benzema and ultimately succeed the French international.
Due to the difficulties caused by Ferland Mendy’s injury absence and their desire to avoid a repeat, Los Blancos wanted to add new full-backs to the mix. Real Madrid’s top priority, aside from these two crucial issues, was to hire Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund.
However, things did not exactly go as the record Champions League champions had hoped. Nevertheless, they were able to conduct some interesting business.
Insider tips
Due to Karim Benzema’s request to leave the team, Real Madrid’s transfer window did not start off as it had been anticipated. The 35-year-old superstar wanted to leave and play with Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia.
Los Blancos did not block him out of respect for their second-highest goalscorer ever. Even Marco Asensio decided not to sign a contract extension and left as a free agent. Eden Hazard’s contract was terminated simultaneously by Madrid and Hazard.
The departures caused a significant hole in Real Madrid’s offense, forcing them to hunt for reinforcement. Smartly, Los Blancos brought back Brahim Diaz from AC Milan after first signing Joselu on loan. They needed to add a little quality without spending a lot of money.
Jude Bellingham was the next target for the Merengues, and they were successful in signing him. After that, a significant number of players were recruited to the team to ensure adequate depth. Due to a long-term injury to their starting goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, they hired Kepa Arrizabalaga toward the close of the transfer window.
Real Madrid undoubtedly lost a number of talented players over the summer, but they also managed to bring in some exciting young potential. It appears to be a well-balanced group, despite the fact that there are still a few issues.
The Marquee Sign
Bellingham
Jude Bellingham began working at Real Madrid on June 14, 2023. With add-ons, they paid a record €103 million to get the 20-year-old midfielder. He was a top transfer target for Los Blancos going into the transfer window, and they were prepared to do everything in their power to bring him to the club.
The 20-year-old center midfielder, who helps the team transition from Toni Kroos and Luka Modric to the new group, is highly regarded by Carlo Ancelotti, who thinks he can replace the vacuum left by Karim Benzema.
Bellingham is already one of the finest in the world, but Ancelotti’s use of him as a central attacking midfielder in a 4-4-2 diamond formation seems to have elevated him to a new level. The 20-year-old plays slightly behind Rodygo and Vinicius Junior. And he is unquestionably filling the vacuum left by Benzema in terms of goal contributions.
The former star of Borussia Dortmund has participated in four La Liga games and has been a part of six goals. He has so far contributed to five goals and one assist. With the coveted number ‘5’ jersey on his back, Bellingham has already helped Real Madrid win a few games, and he is destined for glory at the club.
Quality Contracting
Garcia
Fran Garcia joined Rayo Vallecano in the summer of 2021 after graduating from Real Madrid’s development academy. The 24-year-old, who was highly regarded as a young player, only got better after joining Rayo. His outstanding achievements attracted a lot of curiosity from people all around Europe.
Real Madrid had the first choice to sign the player. As a result, they were able to hire him back in February, and the player is now scheduled to rejoin his old team in the summer. And they only paid €5 million to re-sign him.
Given his performances since coming back, the 24-year-old is a complete steal. Garcia has also played in each of their four La Liga games and has put in some standout performances. The former Rayo Vallecano defender is competent enough to play regularly for Madrid’s first squad. As a result, Los Blancos are not very concerned about Ferland Mendy’s absence.
Permanent Departure
Theo Hazard
Following Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure, Real Madrid began looking for a replacement galactico. While they failed to attract a superstar in the summer of 2018, they went all out to sign Eden Hazard from Chelsea in the summer of 2019.
The Chelsea legend was a longtime favorite of Los Blancos, and they went all out to sign him to the club by paying an initial sum of £120 million. The Madrid-based team consented to pay him a £400,000 weekly salary, making him one of their highest-paid players.
Even Hazard was excited to join Los Blancos, but his fantasy ended up becoming a nightmare. The 32-year-old Galactico was unable to accomplish his mission. The four years he spent at the club were difficult for him. Vinicius cost the former Chelsea winger his starting position, and he was no longer a vital member of their first team.
Hazard received enormous pay. The club made the decision to call a meeting and go over his future as a result. The athlete and the team opted to end his contract amicably. Financially speaking, getting him off their books has been quite beneficial for them.
The Great Miss
Ferland
The just closed transfer window saw excellent business from Real Madrid. They’ve done most things well and have let go of every player Real Madrid supporters would have preferred.
Even though it appears that business is going almost perfectly, Ferland Mendy’s offloading would have made things even better. The 28-year-old has unquestionably contributed significantly to Real Madrid’s success over the last several seasons, but his persistent injuries have become a huge problem.
Mendy has experienced injuries at pivotal moments of a season, and with each passing year, those ailments are happening more frequently. As a result, Los Blancos would have benefited from his sale for the correct sum and the addition of another defender.
Fran Garcia, who the Merengues already have, can serve as their first choice at left-back, thus adding another full-back during this transfer window might have been a wise decision going forward.
Conclusion (8/10)Real Madrid performed essentially flawlessly during the transfer window. The Los Blancos have sought to strengthen the group. To fill the void created by individuals who have left the club, they have brought in new players.
But something still doesn’t feel quite right. Real Madrid lacks a striker of the highest caliber while having sufficient attacking firepower. In addition, they have added Bellingham to the mix and have a new full-back in Fran Garcia.
The switch from a 4-3-3 system to a 4-4-2 for the time being hints that they might not require a striker of the highest caliber. That’s because Real Madrid has midfielders who can contribute in the last third, and Jude Bellingham scores goals for joy.
However, the truth is that scoring goals could become an issue if Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo Goes, who are still relatively young, go through a tough period. Madrid’s infatuation with Kylian Mbappe is the sole reason they may not have spent more on a new striker. Because of this, despite doing practically everything correctly, they receive a respectable 8/10 for their transfer market performance.