Ranking Real Madrid's Top 10 Summer Signings of the Past 10 Years
They are undoubtedly the kings of the transfer market, the club that does blockbuster deals like no other. Ah yes, Real Madrid.
Indeed, the club that launched the Galactico policy back in 2000 is still making waves each summer 15 years on, as the club under the presidency of Florentino Perez continues its quest for unparalleled glamour and stardom.
Like all clubs, of course, Real Madrid's overall record in the market during that time has been patchy, with numerous forgettable deals littered among the success stories.
But the list of stars signed in the summer window remains lengthy, and across the following slides we've picked Real Madrid's 10 finest such players across the last decade.
Considerations in Selection
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The following factors were considered for each player when compiling this list:
- Overall impact
- Value
- Duration of excellence at Real Madrid
- For those still at the club, the duration of time likely ahead
As such, this list favours those who have spent longer periods at the Bernabeu and those who appear destined to do so, meaning the short-term impact of a player such as Ruud van Nistelrooy (pictured above) just misses out.
10. Mesut Ozil
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In Short: Real Madrid's finest playmaker in his time. And a bargain.
He was a Jose Mourinho favourite at Real Madrid, and Mourinho hasn't stopped talking about him since.
"Mesut is a phenomenal player," the Portuguese said after returning to Chelsea in 2013. "You don't need time with him, you need nothing. The player just arrives. His quality and his maturity and his leadership ... you put him in and you know automatically your team becomes better."
Bought for just £12 million from Werder Bremen in 2010 after a sparkling World Cup with Germany, Ozil became Madrid's subtly creative genius under Mourinho, thriving in a No. 10 role while surrounded by the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gonzalo Higuain and Karim Benzema.
The fact he tallied 71 assists in three seasons at the Bernabeu says it all.
9. Gareth Bale
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In Short: A Galactico but one with much still to prove.
By many criteria, Gareth Bale could find himself considerably higher up this list.
As a Galactico, as the world's most expensive player, he's significant for what he represents at Real Madrid. But more than that, he's already a winner of four titles in white, a cup-final specialist, a major component of one of the world's most fearsome attacks and one of Real's heroes of La Decima.
Additionally, the future ahead of the Welshman looks extremely bright.
But at the same time, Bale still has much to prove at the Bernabeu, with many still unconvinced of his worth after a tumultuous second season in Madrid. To this point, his brilliance has been intermittent; to justify his colossal fee and that Galactico tag, it needs to be relentless.
And when his excellence becomes that—relentless—he'll soar up this list.
8. Angel Di Maria
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In Short: A match-winner—and an extremely profitable one.
Bought for roughly £20 million and sold for almost £60 million, Angel Di Maria netted Real Madrid a very hefty profit.
But the Argentinian was much more than a handy investment for Madrid; he was a match-winner.
Though often unpredictable and hardly what you'd call consistent, Di Maria ensured Real had that certain electric quality, with his pace and dynamism so often tearing holes in opposing defences and proving critical for his team's system.
Remarkably, though, it was when Real Madrid forced him out of position that he enjoyed his finest season at the Bernabeu. Indeed, after the signing of Gareth Bale in 2013, Di Maria lost his wide berth and was shoehorned into a midfield role in a 4-3-3 under Carlo Ancelotti.
At the time, it was hard to see it working. Six months later, Real Madrid were holding aloft the UEFA Champions League trophy, with Di Maria having been a primary architect of the triumph.
7. Xabi Alonso
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In Short: A midfield rock.
At Liverpool, he's the guy they wish was never sold. At Real Madrid, he's one they're extremely glad they bought.
Having been a pillar of Rafa Benitez's sides at Anfield, Xabi Alonso became exactly that at the Bernabeu in the teams of Manuel Pellegrini, Jose Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti between 2009 and 2014. In fact, he was absolutely instrumental in the club's two most significant titles in that time.
In 2011-12, the Basque midfielder was a key cog in Mourinho's Real Madrid that toppled one of the greatest sides in history in Pep Guardiola's Barcelona to claim that season's league title. And in 2013-14, it was Alonso's return from injury two months into the season that eventually got things clicking for Ancelotti's men, who went on to claim a historic 10th European crown.
6. Raphael Varane
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In Short: What an incredible piece of business this looks like now.
Raphael Varane is only 22. He's considered the brightest defensive talent in Europe—perhaps the world. He's already elite. He has a decade ahead of him.
And he cost Real Madrid all of £7 million.
Need we say more?
5. Luka Modric
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In Short: Real Madrid's best midfielder right now.
Remember when Luka Modric was voted as the worst signing in La Liga not long after his arrival at Real Madrid in 2012? That feels like a long time ago, doesn't it?
Three years on, though, Modric's stock couldn't be more different.
Last October, the Croatian was named the LFP's best midfielder of the 2013-14 season, and despite an injury interrupted campaign last term, his reputation soared as his side's best form stemmed from his quiet excellence.
The appreciation for Modric is obvious in Real's opponents, too. Indeed, when he was ruled out of the second leg of Madrid's Champions League quarter-final meeting with neighbours Atletico last season, the reaction of the Atleti players, per Marca, was telling: "[He's] half the team."
Right now, Modric could mount a very strong case for being among the world's best three midfielders.
4. Karim Benzema
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In Short: On track for 200-plus Real Madrid goals.
It's taken Karim Benzema quite some time to win over the Bernabeu and the Real Madrid faithful. In fact, it wasn't so long ago when his Real Madrid career was being compared to Nicolas Anelka's.
Derided for his struggles in front of goal, perceived as lazy and burdened by his hefty price tag, the Frenchman once seemed destined for a forgettable tenure in Chamartin. Particularly when Jose Mourinho compared him to a cat—and not in a good way.
But those times are long gone.
In the last few years, Benzema has gone from strength to strength for Los Blancos and now stands as the club's undisputed first-choice No. 9 and perhaps one of the finest strikers in Europe.
Surprising for some will be that he's already got 140 goals for Real Madrid. That leaves him 11th on the club's all-time list. And remember, he's still only 27; Benzema at his current rate, barring injury, is on track for 200-plus strikes for Real Madrid, a figure that would take him past names like Emilio Butragueno, Paco Gento and possibly Hugo Sanchez.
3. James Rodriguez
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In Short: The future of Real Madrid.
So you're probably thinking that No. 3 is too high for a player only into his second season at Real Madrid. But when evaluating James Rodriguez, you must consider both the magnitude of what he's already achieved and the tantalising thought of what's still to come.
In little more than 12 months, the Colombian has become an absolute hit in the Spanish capital. Silky, spectacular and remarkably influential, Rodriguez has rapidly shown he's worthy of the Galactico tag, justifying the colossal £63 million spent to get him.
What's more, he's shown he's the future of Real Madrid. The club's next megastar. Cristiano Ronaldo's successor as the face of Real.
Any way you look at it, it's a damn good signing.
2. Sergio Ramos
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In Short: A 10-year servant, winner of everything, the current club captain and the embodiment of madridismo.
He's still only 29, but Sergio Ramos has now been at Real Madrid for 10 years since signing for the club all the way back in the summer of 2005. And in that time, he's done it all.
In a decorated decade of service for Los Blancos, Ramos has made 450 appearances as one of Europe's finest defenders, collecting an impressive haul of major honours that includes three league titles, two Copa del Reys and, most importantly, a Champions League crown in which he was the hero—the hero of La Decima.
Just as notable as the accolades, though, has been the way Ramos has represented Madrid's traditional identity. More than any of his current team-mates, the Andalusian has been a sort of embodiment or personification of madridismo: full of courage, passion and unwavering dedication. A leader. A player who never knows he's beaten.
He has proved to be a brilliant captain.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo
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In Short: One of the greatest players in Real Madrid's history.
Well, this isn't really a surprise, is it?
Since signing for Real Madrid in 2009, Cristiano Ronaldo has stormed to 323 goals in 309 appearances, shattering records belonging to club icons and entrenching his reputation alongside the finest there has ever been.
Simply, there is no debate to be had about Real Madrid's best signing of the last decade.
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