After a trophyless 2020-21 season that saw the squad depth at Real Madrid being tested to its limits due to injuries, one would expect that Florentino Perez would make signings over the summer. Instead, we’ve watched Zinedine Zidane step down for a second time, Sergio Ramos leave as a free agent and now Raphael Varane is expected to follow suit to his former captain, amid interest from Manchester United.
While other top European clubs continue to sign players, Real Madrid fans remain patient hoping that the club would announce Kylian Mbappe sooner or later. However, even Mbappe’s possible arrival this summer seems to be taken off the cards after recent developments.
According to Radio Marca, there will be no new signings this summer transfer window after Florentino Perez conveyed the same to the rest of the board members.
So what does that mean for Real Madrid? And what next?
Since the Merengues are not expected to make any signings over the summer, Carlo Ancelotti will have to make do with the current squad he has. The defence is certainly a cause for concern next season after Ramos’ departure and now Varane’s inevitable move to United.
Despite losing both first-choice centre-backs, Ancelotti will not be receiving any support in rebuilding the defence apart from the addition of Jesus Vallejo and young Victor Chust. No wonder the Italian is considering using Ferland Mendy as a centre-back next season to cope with the lack of depth.
The midfield will remain the same despite Luka Modric and Toni Kroos entering possibly the final few years of their respective careers. Los Blancos were linked with Eduardo Camavinga, Paul Pogba and Nicolo Barella as possible midfield targets to add depth to the engine room. However, Dani Ceballos and Martin Odegaard’s return from Arsenal would have to now be considered as “new signings” for the midfield.
Kylian Mbappe’s move also looks unlikely now. That means Karim Benzema will once again have to single-handedly drag Real Madrid’s attack for a fourth consecutive season unless Ancelotti somehow comes up with a system in which our wingers can deliver more towards the final output.
If not now, then when does Mbappe sign for Real Madrid?
Reports have been going around that Kylian Mbappe continues to snub all attempts from Paris Saint-Germain over a renewal. The 22-year-old is on contract with Les Parisiens until 2022 and has shown no interest in extending his stay. Since move this summer is now off the cards, Real Madrid fans will have to wait until next season for Mbappe’s arrival unless he excepts the mammoth contract renewal that PSG are preparing.
Overall, post-2018, Florentino Perez has no longer been the same president that most Real Madrid fans looked up to. The likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Sergio Ramos and Zinedine Zidane all walked out under Perez and neither he has done anything significant towards improving the team.
Instead, the president is more focused on the ESL which was a public embarrassment for Los Blancos. It’s gone a step further with the audio leaks and now it’s even worse with possibly no new signings for the summer.