Real Madrid: Regrading 2019 summer transfers in May

LB Ferland Mendy

Another tremendous summer signing by Real Madrid, Ferland Mendy was immediately expected to challenge the experienced Marcelo for minutes at left back. By the end of the 2019-2020 season’s play, Mendy established himself as the clearly superior option, even though Marcelo remained effective in big games against PSG and FC Barcelona.

With his superior defending, Mendy greatly boosted Real’s back four and enabled Sergio Ramos to remain aggressive in his style of play. Mendy can cover a great deal of ground with his work rate and is almost never caught out of position. He also didn’t shirk back in big games, locking down Lucas Ocampos in a world-class performance at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan in September.

Offensively, Mendy started the season lacking in confidence and failed to make incisive passes, but he became a key part of the build-up play by the mid-way point of the 2019-2020 season and only improved from there.

According to WhoScored.com, Mendy was third on the team behind electrifying left wingers Eden Hazard and Vinicius Junior with 1.9 dribbles completed per game. And who can forget his precise winning assist for Karim Benzema in the third Derbi of the season?

Mendy will have to compete with Sergio Reguilon next season, but because of his elite defensive work, expect him to remain a key part of Zidane’s lineup. This signing was 48 million euros well-spent!

Grade: A