Real Madrid: The surprising ideal attacking trio, five years from now

RW Antony

This is the surprise choice. Erling Haaland is achievable, but there are financial and logistical reasons why I cannot sit here and tell you that I expect him to be Real Madrid’s next No. 9, five years from now.

Antony is a very realistic target. Ajax will not be able to keep ahold of him in the next few years, and there’s a real chance he becomes the best right winger in the world by then.

He has been outstanding this season in the Champions League, having roasted Borussia Dortmund in his last fixture. Antony is an incredible creative talent, as his passing is pinpoint. And like Vinicius, he is one of the most exciting dribblers you’ll see on the planet.

A wing duo of Vinicius and Antony with Mbappe in the middle would be devastating for any defense, and it would enable Real Madrid to play a fast, aggressive, modern style of football that can excel either in transition or in possession. Which low-block could pray to contain these three superstars at their best?

Antony is also left-footed. That is important. As Gareth Bale showed us in his peak, having two inverted wingers who can score goals and explode past defenders is the biggest key to dominance for Real Madrid. That goes for both results and aesthetics.

We must track Antony over these next couple of seasons to see if he develops into the player he is truly capable of becoming. Right now, I have high hopes, and I see him as the best alternative to Haaland. In fact, if we view Mbappe and Vinicius as the priorities and the easiest players to have in five years (Vini, after all, is already a part of the team), then Antony might be the top choice in terms of maximizing the talents of those two players.