Ranking and Grading Real Madrid's Summer Signings Halfway Through Season
For Real Madrid, the summer of 2015 was rather different to those that went before it.
After consecutive summers featuring Galactico arrivals in the form of Gareth Bale and James Rodriguez in 2013 and 2014, respectively, the summer of 2015 was a more low-key affair in the Spanish capital.
With a talent-packed first XI already in place at the Santiago Bernabeu, Real Madrid's transfer activity ahead of the season didn't feature the arrival of superstars and was instead focused on the periphery of the squad, bolstering depth in numerous positions.
So how are the new faces performing?
Across the following slides, we take a look at each of the club's summer signings and how they've fared so far this season.
Exclusions from the List
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Given that we're ranking and grading players here, it was necessary to judge Madrid's summer signings by the same standards or criteria.
As a result, players who were signed by Real Madrid last summer but were immediately loaned out have been excluded from this list. After all, excellence at Madrid is very different from excellence at, say, Espanyol.
Additionally, players who returned to the club last summer after completing loan spells elsewhere have also been left out, given that they're not actually summer signings.
Thus, the following players have been excluded:
- Marco Asensio: After reaching an agreement in principle with Madrid in late 2014, Asensio officially moved to the Bernabeu last summer. But after quickly being loaned out to Espanyol, Asensio and his performances can't be directly compared with those who've competed for playing time at the Bernabeu.
- Jesus Vallejo: Like Asensio, Vallejo was signed by Real Madrid last summer but was immediately loaned out, in this case back to his hometown club of Real Zaragoza. Like Asensio's, then, his performances can't be directly compared with those of players at Real Madrid.
- Casemiro: Though Casemiro enjoyed a breakout period at the beginning of the season under former manager Rafa Benitez, the Brazilian is excluded because he's a returned loanee rather than a new signing.
- Denis Cheryshev: Like Casemiro, Cheryshev is a returned loanee.
4. Danilo
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Signed From: Porto
Fee: €31.5 million
Starts: 17
The assessment from AS' Alfredo Relano was concise: "He solves a problem that does not exist," said the reporter of Danilo, following the deal struck to bring the right-back from Porto to the Spanish capital last year.
At the time, that was true. But now, he is a problem.
In Dani Carvajal, Real Madrid already possessed one of Europe's outstanding full-backs and a regular in Vicente del Bosque's Spain national team. But in characteristic fashion under president Florentino Perez, Madrid went and bought a lavishly expensive competitor in Danilo anyway, and the move has backfired
Because of his price tag, the Brazilian carries with him a political pressure to play, which has forced both Rafa Benitez and Zinedine Zidane to use him ahead of the far superior Carvajal, who's often watched from the bench as Danilo has struggled.
Lacking defensive awareness and quick recovery skills, Danilo has regularly been exposed down Madrid's right flank this season, with his string of performances against Celta Vigo, Paris Saint-Germain, Sevilla and Barcelona particularly poor.
The former Porto man replaced Carvajal against Real Betis, despite the Spaniard's excellent form in Zidane's first two outings as manager. Again, he struggled. Afterward, club director Emilio Butragueno was asked why Carvajal had been dropped. "Carvajal had a fever," he told Canal+ (h/t AS). Moments later, Zidane was asked the same question. "He didn't have anything wrong with him," he said.
Everyone knew the reasoning. And sadly, Danilo, through no fault of his own, has come to represent so much of what currently undermines Real Madrid.
Grade: D
3. Kiko Casilla
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Signed From: Espanyol
Fee: €6 million
Starts: 5
When Kiko Casilla returned to Real Madrid last summer, the goalkeeping battle between him and Keylor Navas wasn't as straightforward as it is now.
Though Navas was the incumbent and perhaps obvious choice in the wake of Iker Casillas' departure, a season on the sidelines had seen the Costa Rican's stock take a hit. Somehow, he felt like a lesser 'keeper than the one who'd arrived 12 months earlier, and in Casilla, Madrid had a different type of stopper: bigger, stronger and more dominant in the air.
His debut outing in pre-season was impressive, too. But since, little of note has unfolded for Casilla.
In the opening months of the season, Navas seized the chance afforded to him by Rafa Benitez to become the club's outstanding player for several months. As Navas saved everything, Casilla largely sat and watched, and his only opportunities came during the Costa Rican's brief injury absences.
And when he has appeared, he hasn't been able to match his rival's standard.
When Real Madrid collapsed against Sevilla, the Spaniard was tentative in coming off his line and struggled with his positioning. When he appeared next against Shakhtar Donetsk, he was slow to react for the hosts' second goal as Real Madrid almost handed away a four-goal lead.
Grade: C
2. Lucas Vazquez
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Signed From: Espanyol
Fee: €1 million
Starts: 4
It's not often that Real Madrid make €1 million signings. But last summer, they did, and it's worked out rather well.
Having seen youth product Lucas Vazquez shine at Espanyol in the 2014-15 season, Madrid exercised a buy-back option on the 24-year-old to bring him back to the Bernabeu last July.
Of course, Vazquez was never expected to feature regularly given the attacking talent ahead of him in the pecking order, but the winger has proved himself to be an excellent back-up option and has been reliable when called upon.
Indeed, as a hard-working and direct wide man, Vazquez has either been used as a tactical substitute or as cover for injuries to stars such as Gareth Bale and James Rodriguez. In both roles he's been effective, tallying one goal and four assists in all competitions and contributing to the greater squad-depth evident this season at the Bernabeu.
Grade: B
1. Mateo Kovacic
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Signed From: Inter Milan
Fee: €32 million
Starts: 7
When Mateo Kovacic was signed by Real Madrid, he was never going to be an immediate difference-maker. Instead, he was one for the future, an immensely talented 21-year-old whose signing was in line was the club's recent drive to accumulate the world's brightest young stars.
As such, the Croatian's involvement at Real Madrid this season has been limited thus far. In all competitions, he's made only seven starts. But in that time, he has shown he's worth the money spent on him.
Possessing an excellent first touch, crisp passing, lots of energy and an ability to play multiple roles, Kovacic has made a bright start to life at the Bernabeu, and most importantly, he hasn't looked at all overawed by the spotlight that Real Madrid presents.
At such a young age, of course, he will make mistakes—his recent red card against Valencia evidence of that. But as a package, Kovacic has the raw tools to thrive at Madrid.
Provided he stays on track, his time will come.
Grade: B+
