Real Madrid: The 3 biggest needs heading into summer 2020

Right Winger

Positionally, right winger looks like the weak link in the Real Madrid starting XI. They have a world-class goalkeeper in Thibaut Courtois, the entire starting back four is solid after Ferland Mendy’s massive first season at the Santiago Bernabeu, the midfield is well-stocked (as usual), Eden Hazard is one of the best in the world at left wing, and Karim Benzema is more than good enough at striker despite his critics.

However, right wing is a hole for Real. Rodrygo Goes was the best player at the position last year, but he is still a teenager and cannot be relied on to start every game. Lucas Vazquez is a nice squad player, but it would be a bad decision to start him every game. Isco and Marco Asensio can start there, with Asensio providing the most value due to his left-shooted shooting. But they may not provide enough pace for Zinedine Zidane’s counterattacking ambitions.

Real Madrid want a world-class starter at every position, and the ideal solution would be to purchase someone like Jadon Sancho as a creator or Leroy Sane as a left-footed right winger to unleash the Manchester City man’s scoring ability.

But the reality is Real may not be able to afford both. They’ll want to sell Gareth Bale, and even if Bale stays, the club cannot count on him as a starter after his poor play in 2019-2020.

Achraf Hakimi is listed as a right back, but he could very well be the answer at right wing if he returns from loan at Borussia Dortmund. That is still an “if”, but it would be a shock to see Hakimi playing for anyone other than Real Madrid in 2020-2021.