7 Most Frustrating Things About Being a Real Madrid Fan Right Now

Real Madrid scraped to a 2-1 victory over Galatasaray in the Santiago Bernabeu trophy on Tuesday as they finished up their pre-season campaign.

Los Blancos won a treble of ultimately meaningless pots during the warm-up for the real business ahead, despite not hitting their best form.

It doesn't really give much of an indication of how they are going to perform this season, with Rafa Benitez's style still being formed as we move into the season.

In many ways it has been a frustrating summer for Madrid fans, who would have liked to see a stronger reaction to the team's lack of titles last season.

Between that and the Iker Casillas and David De Gea sagas, it hasn't been an overly happy time.

Here are the seven most frustrating things for Real Madrid supporters at the moment.

7. Raphael Varane's Development (or Lack Of)

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When French centre-back Raphael Varane burst on to the scene under Jose Mourinho, he looked to have a big future at Real Madrid.

He probably still does, but most would have imagined that his time would have come already.

Varane is only 22 and has a decade ahead of him at the top level but needs to start racking up games.

Unfortunately for him, he's now seen both Sergio Ramos and Pepe sign new contracts at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The former put pen to paper on a new deal after a summer-long saga, eventually agreeing to stay at the club until 2020.

Pepe's new deal takes him up to 2017, and it's likely Varane will slowly edge him out of the side.

If that happens this season, all well and good. But Madrid fans aren't too happy about Varane's lack of football.

6. Atletico Madrid Being a True Rival

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Real Madrid had the last laugh over their city rivals, but overall there is cause for concern.

Atletico Madrid played Los Blancos eight times last season and were unbeaten in the first seven.

They knocked Real out of the Copa del Rey, beat them in the Spanish Super Cup and humiliated them 4-0 in the league at the Vicente Calderon.

The final meeting between the teams saw Madrid edge out Atletico, thanks to a Javier Hernandez goal, to reach the Champions League semi-finals.

That was sweet relief, but Atletico have bought well in the transfer window and could be a strong threat this season.

5. Critics Writing Them off

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Just because Real Madrid had a season below their high standards, it doesn't mean they are finished.

Just because Lionel Messi performed better than Cristiano Ronaldo in the second half of the last campaign doesn't mean that the Portugal forward and current Ballon d'Or holder isn't going to lash back with a vengeance this season.

Just because Rafa Benitez hasn't won a league title for more than a decade doesn't mean he can't end that rut with the best squad he's ever taken charge of.

At the start of a season, fans want to be positive, looking forward to the months ahead.

But some of the best-known critics are saying that not only will they fail to win the title, but they might even come third.

Three important La Liga analysts for Sky Sports, Graham Hunter, Terry Gibson and Guillem Balague, have all predicted trouble for Madrid.

In fact, they've all picked them to finish third.

4. Barcelona Being Painfully Good

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Real Madrid weren't exactly bad last season, in that they would have beaten most other teams in Europe.

Unfortunately, they had to stand and watch their arch-rivals sweep up the treble.

Luis Suarez was a key presence in the attack, and he was a player that Madrid tried and failed to sign.

Asked if Madrid wanted him Suarez told COPE, h/t ESPN: "Yes, for what I heard, and was told later there was [interest], but in reality my dream was elsewhere. When I heard the name [of Barca], I had no doubts."

Barcelona's second half of the season was incredible, and Madrid had to view their games praying for them to drop points.

The Blaugrana defence has looked shaky in pre-season so far, and it could be a sign that Madrid's frustration over this factor may come to an end.

3. Gareth Bale's Form

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Gareth Bale did not have a good second season with Real Madrid, and fans want more from the world's most expensive player.

Rafa Benitez has deployed him as a No. 10 at points in pre-season, including against Galatasaray in the Santiago Bernabeu trophy.

The Welshman had another poor evening and Benitez was defending him afterwards. He said, per Sport:

"

Logically there will be debate about Isco, Gareth, James Rodriguez... we are looking to forge an understanding between them. Isco and James play elaborately between the lines - not Gareth. He looks to create space and make runs behind the defence. If he had scored tonight you'd be saying he had a great game. If you look at Bale's movements, they give the team respite.

"

Respite isn't what Madrid should want from one of their attacking stars. They want game-changing, match-winning contributions.

Bale can offer that, but the challenge is to coax it out of him.

2. Florentino Perez's Vise-Like Grip on the Club

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The Iker Casillas saga this summer was a bone of contention for many Madrid fans, who did not like the way their legend was treated by the club.

Santos Marquez, the goalkeeper's agent, criticised president Florentino Perez over his departure. Per Goal, he said:

"

Casillas never decided to jump ship and leave Madrid. He was pushed. Casillas did not ask to leave, he has been annoyed and everything about his exit had been agreed behind his back. He has to go, so he accepts that, but at no point did Casillas want to leave. One factor was the whistles he received from the Bernabeu, but another is the support from the club. He has never felt defended. Nobody - including Florentino - from the club said 'I will sit with Iker Casillas and I will defend him to the death'. That never happened.

"

It's one of many issues the fans have with Perez. He doesn't seem to like any of the players getting too powerful. Some even claim he's the best president Barcelona ever had.

As explained in this ESPN article, Perez ran unopposed to be reelected Real Madrid's president in 2013 because he changed the rules in 2012 to suit himself. It made it very difficult for others to compete for the role.

That means Perez has a lot of power and few people can stop him from abusing it, creating fan unrest.

A group of Madrid fans recently protested against him during Casillas' long goodbye, chanting for him to resign, per Sport.

1. The Club's Transfer Business This Summer

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Real Madrid's David De Gea pursuit has been frustrating for the supporters because it now looks like they will be without a world-class goalkeeper for the season ahead.

Keylor Navas and Kiko Casilla are fine players, but it's unknown how they will cope in one of the most stressful positions in Spanish football, between the sticks for Los Blancos.

If that was the only issue, it wouldn't be so bad, but the signing of Mateo Kovacic is puzzling and feels like more of a panic buy than anything.

There is no doubt he is a talented player and he could go on to have a fine career at the club.

But he is not what Real Madrid need right now, and the likelihood is that he won't be first choice this season for the biggest games.

If they are to match up to Barcelona over the season, they need to sign players.

The Catalans have strengthened with Arda Turan, who will be able to feature from January onwards.

Atletico have brought in Jackson Martinez, Luciano Vietto and Yannick Ferreira Carrasco among others, all of whom are likely to be regular starters.

Apart from Kovacic, Danilo is the other big signing, but he also might have trouble getting in ahead of Dani Carvajal.

If the club are serious about fighting for the title and the Champions League, so far the summer business has not been good enough.