Real Madrid: 5 transfers Los Blancos should avoid in 2020

CM Fabian Ruiz

Napoli center midfielder Fabian Ruiz is another player who has been heavily linked to Real Madrid and FC Barcelona over the past several months. We’ve heard rumors linking Ruiz to both La Liga clubs throughout the 2019-2020 season, and Los Blancos have been most heavily mentioned as being interested in the Napoli star.

But Napoli know his worth and probably won’t sell for much less than 100 million euros. Perhaps Real Madrid can drop Napoli’s asking price to something more reasonable below 90 million euros, but Napoli have every reason to keep the midfielder at all costs.

Ruiz is an exceptional player who should be a key piece of the puzzle in the Spain midfield in the coming years. At times, he’s brilliant, scoring clutch curved goals and spraying passes all over the pitch.

But Real Madrid still have Toni Kroos in his prime and have a handshake agreement with Ajax for 55 million euros for an even better center midfield prospect in Donny van de Beek. And unlike Ruiz, van de Beek has led a team to Champions League glory.

Ruiz is a great player who has sold me on the strength of his play this season, but at Napoli’s asking price, Real Madrid should look elsewhere. Their needs in midfield aren’t as profound as we thought before the winter transfer window either.