Ranking the 5 best free-agent signings in Real Madrid history

Real Madrid, David Alaba (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
Real Madrid, David Alaba (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images) /
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Fernando Morientes, Real Madrid \ Mandatory Credit: Phil Cole /Allsport
Fernando Morientes, Real Madrid \ Mandatory Credit: Phil Cole /Allsport /

1. Fernando Morientes

On number one, is an absolute club legend, the perfect number nine who cemented his position in the front-line alongside Raul despite a lot of competition for the spot. He is none other than Fernando Morientes, a true old-school goal-scorer whose exploits are well known at both club and country levels. Arriving on a free transfer from Zaragoza in 1997, Morientes worked his way up to a decorated trophy cabinet with Real Madrid.

Morientes was the first-choice center forward who rounded off the attack in the late 90s and into the 2000s. In 292 official appearances for the club, he netted 91 goals. Alongside Mcmanaman, he was one of the key contributors in the final of the 1997-98 Champions League against Valencia, scoring a goal in the first half from a Michel Salgado assist. Another highlight of his infamous goal-scoring came in the 2000-01 LaLiga season when in a 7-0 thrashing of UD Las Palmas, Morientes netted five goals.

Morientes also had to leave on a loan spell in 2003/04 to Monaco after having fallen down the pecking order to players like Guti and a new arrival, Ronaldo Nazario. However, when he was in his prime, Morientes made more than enough of his opportunities having won three European Cups, two Intercontinental Cups, one European Supercup, two LaLiga titles, and three Spanish Supercups.

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The partnership with Raul was also visible in the Spanish national team. Morientes scored 27 goals in 47 caps making him a notable goal scorer for Spain. He participated in two World Cups, one European Championship, and once in the Olympics without any success. But, his scoring exploits were of the quality that fans would still remember.