In the same summer transfer window that Real Madrid signed Eden Hazard, Ferland Mendy distinguished himself as the best addition to the squad.
Real Madrid still have the 2019-2020 Champions League campaign to worry about, as they head into Friday night’s fixture against Manchester City with a 2-1 deficit. Ferland Mendy was one of the star performers in that first leg matchup and should be one of the biggest keys to victory in the second leg.
Mendy has been a crucial addition to Los Blancos. Signed for 50 million euros from Lyon in the 2019 summer transfer window, Mendy has been a game-changer for Real. Defensively, it’s hard to think of a fullback who can make more of a difference than the French left back, as he was dribbled past a mere 0.2 times per game in La Liga last season, per WhoScored.com.
Offensively, Mendy was no slouch either. Real Madrid signed him for his defensive prowess, which is what enabled him to rather quickly usurp the legendary – and still effective, just ask FC Barcelona – Marcelo in the starting lineup. But he has consistently improved in the attack, providing the winning assist in February’s Derbi vs. Atletico Madrid and then scoring a wonderful goal at Granada this summer.
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Statistically, Mendy has averaged 2.0 dribbles per game to finish second on the team in the league after 100 million euro man Eden Hazard, who is one of the best dribblers in recent history. Mendy also drew 1.2 fouls per game, meaning he drew more fouls per game than he conceded. Again, more remarkable numbers from the left back.
Eden Hazard can be a great player for Real Madrid and showed his world-class ability during an unstoppable stretch of games in late October and November before his first ankle injury against PSG. But even he can’t say that he’s made the impact Ferland Mendy has on Real Madrid.
Mendy is the present and future at left back for Real. He joins Alphonso Davies, Raphael Guerreiro, and Andrew Robertson as being in the elite class of left backs, and what distinguishes him from all those other players is that he’s just about impossible to dribble past. Defensively, Mendy has no peer, even as he’s still working to bring up his offensive game to the level of the others.
Zinedine Zidane can rest easy whenever Mendy is in the lineup. The French left back takes so much pressure off left center back Sergio Ramos, who played a critical role as the team’s second-leading scorer with 11 goals. Ramos can push up the pitch more easily with Mendy in the lineup, and even Hazard doesn’t have to worry as much about defending with Mendy behind him.
The 25-year-old is going to be a starter at Real Madrid for a long time. Although 50 million euros isn’t cheap for a left back, it was absolutely worth it and money well-spent for Los Blancos. He is one of the elite fullbacks in world football right now and thus an elite signing for Real.
Mendy has been the signing of the summer last year thus far, there is little doubt about it. Rodrygo Goes, Hazard, and even Luka Jovic can be attacking game-changers, but do not overlook the way Mendy has lifted Real’s defense to being the best in Europe in terms of goals allowed (25).