Real Madrid after Ronaldo and ZZ



With the sale of their superstar player and catalyst over the last nine seasons, Florentino Perez’s Madrid side are in need of a rebuild. The £105 million deal which took Ronaldo to Juventus this summer, will give Madrid a prime opportunity to reinvest and reconstruct their side as they bid to win a fourth consecutive Champions league title. A change of system will also accompany a change in personnel, as Zidane stepped down at the end of the season and was replaced by the inexperienced Spaniard, Julen Lopetegui. So what options do Madrid have in the transfer market? Whatever approach Madrid take you can expect a net spend of above £150 million this summer, due to the uncharacteristically conservative approach Madrid took under Zidane, which saw them spend little while cashing in on the likes of Alvaro Morata, James Rodriguez and Danilo.
The first option is the signing of Hazard, Icardi and Courtois, which would involve the selling of Karim Benzema but holding onto the Manchester United target Gareth Bale. This would allow Madrid to line up in a 4-3-3 system, in which Carvajal, Varane, Ramos and Marcelo start as the regular back four as they did last season. Kroos and Modric would play as central midfielders ahead of the anchor man casemiro, with Hazard and Bale playing as roaming inside forwards while Icardi started up top centrally.
This system would allow Hazard and Bale to move inside centrally to affect the game, whilst Carvajal and Marcelo kept the width while providing threats from advanced positions through their crossing ability. What this system would give Madrid would be defensive protection from counter attacks as Kroos and Modric could sit deeper and dictate play, allowing Hazard and Bale to move into the half spaces behind the oppositions midfield. With the full backs advanced, Modric and Kroos playing deeper would prevent opposition teams countering effectively in the space left, which was seen as opposition teams last season looked to exploit the space Marcelo leaves on the left side of Madrid’s defence.
Defensively Lopetegui’s side would fall into a 4-5-1 which would provide security in the centre of the park and allow the potential counter attacking options out wide with Hazard and Bale.