3 transfer mistakes that cost Real Madrid a Champions League title

2) Refusing to give Kylian Mbappe a starting spot in 2017

Oh, boy. Let’s go back to 2017. Real Madrid were fresh off their second consecutive Champions League triumph, beating Juventus 4-1 in the final. Juventus, in the semi-finals, played against a potential world-beater in Kylian Mbappe, who was just 19 at the time.

Mbappe, after that season, wanted a move to a big, prestigious club. Real Madrid and PSG put offers on the table, but only PSG were able to guarantee him a starting spot. Gareth Bale was coming off the worst and most injury-ridden season of his Real Madrid career, and the only reason Real didn’t guarantee him a starting spot was because of the attacking trio of Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Bale.

This would’ve made sense if it was a year prior. But, until that point, we had already seen the injury-prone side of Gareth Bale, and even though he scored around 20 goals the next season, he just wasn’t the same, was he? Plus, we had already seen that Real Madrid could exist without Bale in the line-up.

It is true that Bale’s insane performance in the Champions League final of 2018 is what won them the title, but think about the way Real Madrid would’ve played if Mbappe was around after Ronaldo’s departure. It’s been three years, I think I would’ve put my money on Real Madrid winning the Champions League in these last three years if they had Mbappe.

Bale would’ve probably stayed for another season, but his value was still high at the time. Letting him go with his value being that high would’ve been better than keeping him around till the end of his contract with practically no suitors available for him.