Real Madrid vs. Barcelona: 5 burning questions after an unacceptable loss
Will this loss push Real Madrid to secure Tchouameni and other role players?
Real Madrid’s humbling defeat to their arch rivals will have to lead to changes in the summer transfer window, and one player Los Blancos have already been pushing hard to sign is AS Monaco defensive midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni. He is the best possible midfielder for Los Blancos to sign this summer, when you consider his age, upside, price, and fit into the team.
Casemiro remains an effective defensive midfielder, but Real are starting to see that his weaknesses on the ball are holding the team back. He is a defensive midfielder from a different era, and Real are trying to create a juggernaut for the next decade in the Champions League. Or European Super League.
So Tchouameni is perfect for that. He is a modern-day defensive midfielder who can anchor a team, make all the necessary tackles and interceptions, and carry the ball to start attacks. He is more assured in possession and maybe even more productive defensively.
Real Madrid must do what they can to secure the 22-year-old Monaco man, but there are other roles in the squad that must be filled. They could use a more active, better dribbling left-footed winger than Marco Asensio. Obviously, they need a right back. Another left back with Ferland Mendy is an underrated need. They could use more depth at center back; Nacho Fernandez alone does not cut it. If they do not sign Erling Haaland, which seems like the case now, they need a backup striker. Raul de Tomas, anyone?
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Los Blancos have more needs than some fans wanted to admit. Maybe than the club and Perez himself wanted to admit. A game like this blows everything wide open and shows how rapidly Barcelona are making progress, while how rapidly Real could stagnate without smart, sweeping signings. Without real changes. Hopefully, this defeat is the impetus for something good in the summer transfer window. A summer of change.