Real Madrid Need 3 Signings Before Transfer Ban to Compete for Champions League
Real Madrid, like city rivals Atletico, are facing a transfer ban imposed by FIFA for the same reason Barcelona suffered over the last year: breaching rules over the transfers of minors.
Both clubs have already said they will appeal the decision, per BBC Sport, but both will also be aware that their Catalan counterparts took the matter as far as they could—and still ended up being unable to sign players for two windows.
Real Madrid in particular need to be prepared for that eventuality and ensure the squad is in a position to challenge for trophies while banned from making additions and, at present, that's not the case.
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President Florentino Perez, head coach Zinedine Zidane and the rest of the sporting figures at the club need to agree on bringing in at least three more names before the ban kicks in—which is supposed to be in the summer.
Winter no-go
Whatever happens to Real Madrid in summer, it seems they are gambling on being able to buy in new faces once the current season has ended, not pushing plans forward to January.
In an interview with France Football (h/t Marca), Perez intimated that there would be no new arrivals at the Santiago Bernabeu before the current transfer window shuts: "We aren't going to sign anyone in the January transfer window, but it has nothing to do with the ban. It's simply because we have the best players and the best coach."
Admirable sentiments but plainly wrong.
Real don't have the best players, or at least not enough of them to be lifting titles. Indeed, it's fair to say that even the most talented individuals the squad does possess have not yet proved themselves to have the right balance between them in key areas, and the team act will almost always win out over the individual quality, especially over a long-haul competition such as La Liga.
As for the best coach...Zidane may yet turn out to be a multiple winner of Liga and Champions League titles, or even win the World Cup as head coach, but three games into his top-flight tenure it's nothing more than pointless posturing from Perez to claim him as the best. Tactically unchallenged so far, Zidane's Castilla career was a breeding ground for ideas and influence, nothing more.
Not for another half-year and beyond will anyone truly have a grasp on how well the French legend will take to the job; even then, to win titles in two of the most fiercely contested environments needs more than simply being good.
As for no winter transfers, Marca reported that Real pulled the plug on a deal for Uruguayan forward Rodrigo Bentancur because they are "desperate to avoid giving the impression of nervousness" ahead of the transfer ban.
Liga outsiders
In what was, for a long time, a two-horse race, Real Madrid are currently third. Barcelona—title holders, treble winners, top of the La Liga—are still the favourites, but Atletico Madrid are also four points clear of Real after Jornada 21.
Of course there's still lots to play for—least of all the Madrid derby in late February—but Atletico have the continuity, consistency and togetherness that Real constantly look a million miles from. It's not the be-all-and-end-all, but it is yet another hurdle that Real as an entire club need to overcome.
Zidane's results so far have been a thumping victory over a Deportivo La Coruna side in free fall—no wins in seven, one win in 11—and another against promoted side Sporting Gijon. The latter victory was seen as a big bonus for the new Bernabeu boss as the man he replaced, Rafa Benitez, had only drawn with the new Liga side on the opening day. But Zidane and Real then drew his third game, 1-1, against another of the promoted teams, Real Betis.
Just as many have found out before him, there's little in the way of arcane mastery for new managers to simply make everything better. Shaping and focusing the squad is a process, from week-to-week as much as season-to-season.
Real are third in the table for a reason, and Zidane cannot alter that by force of mind alone—they are third favourites to win the title. A poll in Mundo Deportivo after the last round of league games saw just over half of fans vote to say that Real Madrid had said goodbye to the league title.
With a potential seven-point gap between themselves and Barcelona, should they beat Sporting in their game in hand, it's not hard to see why. Centre-back Pepe admitted to Movistar Plus (h/t Marca) that the title will be a "tall order," even now in January.
Current squad
The league may be gone for this season—and the less said about the Copa del Rey the better—but the Champions League remains.
In any given season in recent years, the likes of Real, Barca, Bayern Munich and Juventus are seen as the favourites and this year is largely no different. In truth, though, it takes a stretch of imagination to think that the Santiago Bernabeu club could win it this time out.
While the Real Madrid first XI is undeniably impressive and contains many stars that most clubs would love to have in their own lineups, the depth of the squad and the drop in quality from starter to reserve is simply too cavernous.
The front line is the perfect example.
The "BBC"—Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo—is as good as most in world football, but when one is missing there are only two options: play a different type of player and change the method of attack, or play the same way and have a huge drop-off in end product and consistency.
Bringing James Rodriguez or Isco into the front line means a different build-up speed and more footwork instead of quicker passes outside the box, while Jese or a similar option out wide is a massive step down from Bale or Ronaldo.
Notably, there is no pure centre-forward in place to replace Benzema and his goals.
Comparison: Champions League winners
Can you win a Champions League with an XI and trust to their qualities and fitness? Yes, if other competitions are forfeited somewhat and the actual side has great balance.
When Carlo Ancelotti won La Decima in 2014, his policy was largely to have a first XI, though he had four players who played big totals of game time during the season outside those initial picks: Alvaro Arbeloa, Isco, Asier Illarramendi, Raphael Varane and Fabio Coentrao. It should also be noted that Sami Khedira and Jese may have featured more but for injury, while two goalkeepers time-shared the position.
Still, for Real Madrid that's a small core section of the squad, with limited support acts, and the same can be said for this year—especially since Zidane's arrival.
Marca reported recently on the changes in game time since Benitez departed, with none of Casemiro, Lucas Vazquez or Nacho featuring since the managerial alteration.
Key to Real's success was the midfield balance. Xabi Alonso held ground centrally (Khedira in the final itself, with Alonso suspended), Angel Di Maria provided enormous work rate and vertical penetration and Luka Modric schemed and roamed. Toni Kroos for Alonso is a similar player type, though forced into a role switch which clearly isn't natural for the German.
Regardless of who else plays in the current side, there is nobody with the athleticism and ground-covering ability of Di Maria—and the front three are all older.
Is it enough? Compared to the depth on show at Barcelona and Bayern in particular, it's not as much, but cup competitions can be won by anybody.
To tip the balance for this year's Champions League, and to be far more competitive all round next season, Real Madrid simply have to make additions...which brings us right back to the transfer ban.
Key areas to strengthen
It is expected that a verdict on Real's appeal will take around six weeks, which means the ban could still take effect from the summer window—though there will doubtless be more appeals and hearings to come.
Before the book is closed on Real's ability to operate in the transfer market, they absolutely need three areas to beef up Zidane's options.
First has to be another centre-forward option, preferably one who can also play wide in the attack to augment playing time, and he must be an option who won't lower the quality level.
It's unfortunate that Jese may never reach his peak due to lowered game time and his ACL injury, but that's what Real face right now, and someone else needs to be capable of bringing goals and speed to the attack, especially as Bale and Benzema in particular have been prone to injury absences.
A left-back to challenge or cover Marcelo is also an obvious need. Nacho battled manfully in the role and a host of others have briefly covered there, but an offensive-minded side need thrust and penetration down the flank, especially with Ronaldo usually floating inside from the touchline.
Finally, another midfield addition should be a priority—but the type depends on Zidane's plans. So far he has been consistent with a 4-3-3; continuing in that vein should see Real look for an all-round player, athletic and capable of winning back possession high upfield, but also technically capable of making an impact in the final third.
Switching systems would require different alternatives, but if Casemiro continues to be ignored, a holding option for certain fixtures would certainly be of benefit.
Of course, it would also be hoped that after a settling-in period in the first season at the club, the likes of Mateo Kovacic and Danilo will also show their great tactical value going forward.
Even so, the current squad cannot compete domestically—recent seasons have proved that beyond any doubt—and one Champions League win in 13 years is hardly cause for enormous celebration for a team such as Real Madrid.
Perez and Co. have no other option but to act before the transfer ban kicks in, or face further time on the sidelines watching on as Atletico and Barcelona celebrate significant silverware hauls.
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