Real Madrid Transfer News: Grading Their Activity in the Summer Window

Real Madrid has always been one of the more active teams when it comes to transfers and 2011 has been no different. 

While Real Madrid wasn't the busiest team during the summer transfer window, they did an effective job of bringing in good young players. 

Expectations are always through the roof for Real Madrid, so here are the grades for their summer transfers. 

5) Hamit Altintop

According to soccernews.com,Real Madrid was able to get Hamit Altintop from Bayern Munich for free. 

Altintop is only 28 and is a decent midfielder who started a total of 14 games for Bayern Munich in the 2009-10 season. 

Though not a very good scorer—no more than three goals in any season—Altintop did have five assists last season, the most in his career. 

Altintop is a physical midfielder and his 17 fouls from last season reflect that. While the Altintop transfer is not an amazing move, it is not less than average.

Grade: C-

4) Raphael Varane

The youngest player Real Madrid got during this transfer window was Raphael Varane. Varane is at the young age of 18. 

The 6'3" Varane is a very big defender with a lot of potential. He has very good speed and is very versatile. 

The only downfall of Varane is going to be the inexperience that will come with an 18-year-old player. Varane has a ton of potential, but only time will tell how this transfer will turn out. 

Grade: C

3) Nuri Sahin

Sahin, like Altintop, was brought in from Turkey. Unlike Altintop, Sahin was not brought in for free. 

Nuri Sahin is 22 years old and has plenty of potential as a midfielder. Last season with Turkey and Borussia Dortmund, Sahin was able to put up eight goals and 13 assists in 41 starts. 

Sahin is an excellent passer, though he tends to shy away from his right foot. He is also weak in the air, but still an above average transfer. 

Grade: B-

2) Jose Maria Callejon

Jose Maria Callejon was brought in from Espanyol and is a very solid forward at the young age of 24.

Last season in 36 starts for Espanyol, Callejon was able to score six goals while dishing out seven assists. 

Callejon certainly has a good amount of upside and is a solid transfer for Real Madrid at a price of 5.5 million Euros. 

Grade: B

1) Fabio Coentrao

The most expensive transfer for Real Madrid during the summer window was Fabio Coentrao at 30 million Euros. 

At 23 years old, Coentrao is a very solid defender. Coentrao comes from Portugal and is a very versatile player who can also shoot and cross very well. 

Coentrao was very inconsistent early on in his career, but certainly has a lot of upside for Real Madrid. Overall this was a solid transfer for Real Madrid. 

Grade: A-