Real Madrid knew that after a poor year and without making any moves in the winter transfer window, it was time to act this summer. They moved quickly and signed Dean Huijsen, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Franco Mastantuono. Álvaro Carreras fell by the wayside, but negotiations have resumed to strengthen the team’s left back position. With these four signings, the Whites intend to close this chapter and make no further moves. There had been talk of a striker and a midfielder, but Gonzalo and Arda Güler’s excellent performances have changed their minds. However, the need to double up in certain positions, the lack of confidence in some of the bench players, and the absence of Bellingham after his operation could open the door to one last signing for the midfield.
A midfield under scrutiny
For much of the season, Real Madrid has been heavily criticized for its poor performance and ineffective and unattractive play. The results could have been better given the undisputed quality of the squad, but the truth is that something was missing on the pitch. Considering that the only two changes were the absence of Toni Kroos and Joselu, that was where the problem lay. They needed a natural finisher to win games and, above all, a playmaker who could organize and control the game, linking the lines and creating chances for the forwards to score, as well as being a reliable defender.
The departure of Toni Kroos left a void that could not be filled throughout the season. For a moment, it seemed that Ceballos was the key man in this role, but an injury at the most inopportune moment halted his progress. Modric will leave this summer and the role of Tchouaméni, Camavinga, or Valverde is different. With the arrival of Xabi Alonso, everything has taken a 180-degree turn with the discovery of that key piece: Arda Güler.
Arda Güler and his journey to becoming the new Modric
The young Turk has been relegated by Carlo Ancelotti to the bench, and with that, the team has been missing out on a powerful asset, as has become clear during this World Cup, where Xabi Alonso has opted for the player who is enjoying being the team’s architect and his presence in the build-up play, as well as his impossible through balls and his forays into attack with his masterful left foot.
However, there are still things to work on defensively, and Arda Güler is more confident about “continuing to improve” and explained what the Basque coach is asking of him. “He asks me to play like a number 10, to get involved in the game a lot, to direct and improve the team. Am I happier? Yes, for sure,” he said. His good form has led the Whites to abandon the idea of signing a player like Zubimendi, who is now officially at Arsenal, for midfield, at least for the time being, although there are other candidates on the horizon.
Real Madrid’s Plan B
The newspaper ‘As’ reported a few days ago that Concha Espina was considering the possibility of signing Kees Smit. A player with great potential who has attracted a lot of interest in the market. According to ‘TBR Football’, Chelsea, Tottenham, Manchester City, Manchester United, Aston Villa, Brighton, Leeds United, Ajax, Bayern Munich, RB Leipzig, and Olympique Marseille are all interested.
Kees Smit is only 19 years old and is a pure playmaker with good ball distribution, both high and low, thanks to his excellent vision. These are qualities that come at a price. According to TBR Football, there could be an agreement in principle on the price. AZ has valued the player at around €25 million.