Real Madrid: Could Schalke Signing Sami Khedira Be Mutually Beneficial?

If Real Madrid let German central/defensive midfielder Sami Khedira, 27, leave for Schalke, the transfer could work out for all parties involved. 

There are two takes you should have when it comes to analysing this hypothetical transfer:

1. Real Madrid reducing Khedira's role renders him expendable.
2. The midfield quandary at Schalke means you should react: "Oh, that makes sense" if Khedira does end up calling Gelsenkirchen home. 

Who's at Fault?

Blighted, cursed and hapless are words you can use to describe Khedira.

The tragic irony is Khedira spoke about how his playing style had been altered for the better by then-Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho.

"I used to think I had to slog my guts out to help the team even more," Khedira said, per Die Welt (h/t Mina Rzouki at Football Espana). "Mourinho told me to 'step back a little, play smarter, more with your head'."

Mourinho should have stepped back a little, breathed in, breathed out and used his head before rushing to play an unfit Khedira, per Hugo Cerezo at Marca:

"

Jose Mourinho knew he was taking a risk by playing Sami Khedira against Borussia Dortmund ... Khedira was picked, despite the risk of the player pulling up injured, which is exactly what happened in the game.

...

A similar thing happened in the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona in 2010, when Khedira complained of feeling a strain during the half-time break.

The medical team said the player risked further injuring himself, but Mourinho wanted him to continue for as long as possible.

In the 107th minute the player pulled up—with an injury to his adductor muscle—and he subsequently missed the rest of the season.

"

Just like Mourinho washing his hands after the psychological ramifications he dealt to Antonio Adan—a pawn in a cold war against Iker Casillas—Khedira was worked into the ground.

To Mourinho, Khedira was a foot soldier, a runner and a cog, which increased the stability in Real Madrid's midfield. 

Being in a win-now mode, Mourinho probably didn't even contemplate about the possible physical and psychological stress he would inadvertently inflict upon Khedira.

The key word being "inadvertently," since Mourinho played a crucial role in Khedira taking his game to the next level, hence his heartfelt message in reaction to the "Only One" departing Real Madrid.

You surmise Mourinho's blind trust in Khedira combined with his overeagerness to prove his critics wrong is the genesis to his body breaking down ad nauseam.

David Ramos/Getty Images

February 9, 2015, per Phil Watson at Sports Illustrated: "Sami Khedira sustained [a hamstring] injury during Saturday's 4-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid and left the match at half-time."

December 3, 2014, per Tom Conn at Inside Spanish Football: "Sami Khedira kept overnight in hospital after suffering a concussion against Cornella."

September 10, 2014, per RealMadrid.com: "Sami Khedira, who is currently out injured with a left hamstring problem, has undergone an arthroscopic revision [surgery] on his left knee."

July 13, 2014, per a tweet from the Germany national team:

"The moment I realised that I could not play [in the 2014 FIFA World Cup final] was by far the toughest and saddest moment of my career," Khedira said, per Kicker (h/t Press Association Sport via FIFA.com). "I was just really empty and drained."

Martin Rose/Getty Images

November 16, 2013, per BBC Sport: "[Sami Khedira] tore a cruciate ligament during Germany's 1-1 friendly draw against Italy in Milan on Friday."

October 24, 2012, per Bundesliga.com: "With Borussia Dortmund starting to exert some decent pressure, Real Madrid suffered a blow just shy of the 20-minute mark when German international midfielder Sami Khedira had to depart the action with a thigh injury."

January 24, 2012, per Martin Macdonald at Goal: "Sami Khedira is unavailable after being ruled out for a month with an ankle injury." 

August 27, 2011, per Times Live: "Real Madrid will begin their title challenge at Real Zaragoza on Sunday without injured midfield trio Sami Khedira [thigh], Nuri Sahin and Hamit Altintop, coach Jose Mourinho confirmed on Saturday."

April 30, 2011, per UEFA.com: "Sami Khedira has not played since 20 April after tearing his right adductor muscle in the Copa del Rey final [win against Barcelona]."

February 24, 2011, per Iain Rogers at Reuters: "[Real Madrid] said on Tuesday midfielder Sami Khedira would be out for two to three weeks after damaging a thigh muscle in Tuesday's 1-1 UEFA Champions League draw at Lyon."

Real Madrid and the German Football Association passing the buck when it comes to admitting fault in Khedira's demise, per Juan Ignacio Garcia-Ochoa at Marca, has further muddled the chances of finding a long-term solution.

Moving on from Khedira 

"From day one, I did all I could to work and not to wallow in self-pity or moan," Khedira said, per Nike Football. "I realised, okay, don't overdo it, don't force it, let your body decide."

Despite wanting a new contract at Real Madrid, per Stuttgarter Nachrichten (h/t Jose Carlos Menzel at AS), Khedira has essentially been replaced.

• Lucas Silva | Cruzeiro → Real Madrid (2015): €14/£10.1 million.
• Toni Kroos | Bayern Munich → Real Madrid (2014): €25/£18 million.
• Asier Illarramendi | Real Sociedad → Real Madrid (2013): €32/£23.1 million.

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti needs to build the midfield around Luka Modric, not Khedira, who is on an expiring contract.

This is where Schalke come in.

Kicker Bundesliga Player Rankings:

• Roman Neustadter: 113.
• Marco Hoger: 158.

Schalke, the fifth-best club in the Bundesliga, lacks a dominating midfielder.

• In hindsight, Neustadter should have stayed at Borussia Monchengladbach. Only completes 57.8 percent of his tackles.
• Hoger is a Bundesliga-standard player, but unless he drastically improves, he is not going to be a difference-maker.
• Schalke management still don't know if Jan Kirchhoff is a centre-back or a No. 6. On loan from Bayern Munich.
• Dennis Aogo interchanges from the left-side to a central role. He is a utility player, who commits more fouls (1.7) than tackles per game (1.3).
• Kevin-Prince Boateng is going through an identity crisis. He is not consistent enough to be a No. 6, No. 8, No. 9 or No. 10. He is inefficient in both halves: 20 percent shooting accuracy and he has recorded 17 tackles while accumulating 37 fouls.
• Leon Goretzka generally plays on the right, but he has the traits to develop into an elite central midfielder. Just returned from an eight-month injury-layoff.

This is the context to Schalke manager Roberto Di Matteo welcoming the Khedira rumours.

"We all know [Khedira] is a great player," Di Matteo said, per Carlos Forjanes at AS. "If he wants to come [to us], the door is open. He's a world-class player."

It is financially irresponsible of Real Madrid president Florentino Perez to offer a long-term contract to Khedira, who has proven since 2011 that his body is not durable enough for week-in, week-out top-flight football.  

Now if Khedira is willing to sign a short-term contract loaded with appearance bonuses—implemented to protect Real Madrid from losing money if he suffers another long-term injury—then it is OK if he is retained. 

Still, returning to the Bundesliga—possibly with Schalke—might resuscitate Khedira's stagnant career.

+allanjiang.

When not specified, statistics via WhoScored.com.