Real Madrid should continue to monitor Benoit Badiashile closely

Real Madrid need to keep looking at young center backs for a future transfer window, and Monaco’s Benoit Badiashile should be high on the list.

This summer, reports surfaced that Real Madrid were interested in AS Monaco center back Benoit Badiashile, but the player did not make a move in the 2020 summer transfer window. It was all for the better, since Real did not want to make any signings last summer. Badiashile would have been affordable at 30 million euros or less, but he could have also moved to another team. In the end, new manager Niko Kovac did not want to sell such a talented young player.

Badiashile was a standout for Monaco in 2019-2020 as a breakout star in his second season in Ligue 1, and he’s been even better in 2020-2021 under Kovac in his third season as a starter in one of Europe’s top five leagues.

According to WhoScored.com, Badiashile is averaging 1.8 interceptions per game and completing nearly 90 percent of his passes in Ligue 1. He’s been dribbled past just 0.6 times per game and has even chipped in two goals for the club.

Badiashile is no slam dunk and isn’t as touted as Jules Kounde or Dayot Upamecano, but he’s still more than good enough to be on Real Madrid’s radar. The lower price as compared to Upamecano and Kounde should additionally interest Los Blancos, because they don’t have enough money to make center back a priority, big-money position.

Right now, Los Blancos have four quality center backs. They could also add David Alaba on a free transfer, though his wages will be high. Even if they add Alaba and re-sign Sergio Ramos, which would be a dream scenario for Madridistas, the future of the position may be in question if Zinedine Zidane doubts Eder Militao. Recently, he’s been playing Nacho Fernandez over Militao, and while that’s no real indictment on Militao considering how well Nacho is playing, it’s not necessarily a good sign for the Brazilian center back either.

I would list center back below wide forward and center midfielder on the list of priorities for Los Blancos, but I do think Real Madrid need to keep a shortlist of affordable, young, and talented center backs in case they must make a move. We can’t get ahead of ourselves with Alaba, even if he signs. Nor can we ignore the need for depth and a future in central defense beyond Ramos and Nacho.

Badiashile is a great young player who will only keep developing at Monaco. If not in 2021, Real Madrid should think of Badiashile as a possible option in 2022 and beyond. Badiashile’s contract does not expire until 2024, so in a few years when Ramos hangs up the spikes, he can be there as an option to work with Varane and Militao, Alaba, or whoever else is there for Los Merengues.