Since it was international break again last weekend, I think it's the perfect moment to look back and reflect on how the team has evolved from the start of the season until today. I'd like to share with you an article I wrote in September with my analysis of Real Madrid transfer window.
I basically still agree with what I wrote back then. However, due to injuries, some players have had more (or less) playtime than expected and that surprised me. Just one opinion has not changed and will never change. I confess I still find it hard to accept that now we have a new diez...
So, here's the analysis I wrote in September.
Season kick-off: was Real Madrid’s transfer window too extreme?
Does bringing in the new necessarily mean getting rid of the old?
Real Madrid’s strategy for the new season was clearly to build a younger team. Some decisions were definitely spot on, while others left some doubts.
The biggest deals
Dean Huijsen and Trent Alexander-Arnold are excellent signings. Period. The defenders of the future. Both coming from the Premier League, they bring fresh blood to Madrid’s backline.
Huijsen is probably the biggest surprise, since he’s not coming from a top class English team, but Real Madrid was able to notice his talent (something that Juventus missed) and decided to invest 60 million Euros. Huijsen and Militão are the starting CB couple as for now.
Alexander-Arnold doesn’t need to be introduced. Real Madrid noticed the real deal, as he was free agent after his contract with Liverpool expired. He will be Dani Carvajal’s successor on the right wing and will become one of the team’s pillars.
The doubt
Franco Mastantuono is definitely talented but maybe he’s too young to be on the Madrid stage. He played a lot so far, also because of Bellingham’s absence, and with good performances, but then he’ll have to fight with his main competitors on the right wing - Rodrygo Goes and Brahim Díaz - for a spot. He’ll be a certainly valuable backup but maybe an 18-year-old would need more consistent playtime. Hopefully he won’t end up like Reinier.
The mistake
The decision not to renew Luka Modrić’s contract for one last year was questionable and strategically risky. His loyalty, humbleness and absolute reliability would have made him still precious for the team. Without him, Xabi Alonso is building a different play system and that’s OK, but you can’t match the invaluable importance of Modrić’s experience and leadership. He still had a key role not only in the midfield but also in the dressing room: his role as a mentor for the youngsters (above all for Arda Güler) and even as a father figure (for example for Rodrygo) was extremely important. With him having left the team, it will be Dani Carvajal’s duty, as new first Captain and last senior player of the squad, to take on this role, at least till the end of the season. Then, should his contract not be renewed either, the three-peat golden era will be really gone for good.
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What do you think of the transfer window? Has your opinion changed over the last two months? Hit reply and let me know!
See you next Tuesday!
Marta
