Real Madrid Transfers: 6 positions that must be strengthened this summer
Left back
Real Madrid’s current left-backs are Ferland Mendy, Marcelo, and Castilla’s Miguel Gutierrez, with Nacho covering for them from time to time. The legendary Brazilian and the current club captain Marcelo is leaving the club this summer, which will empty a spot. The spot of a second-choice left-back should be automatically taken by the talented Miguel Gutierrez in an ideal world, but his injury-prone nature has made the club doubt if he’s ready for the first team and wants to see him on loan at another club.
Due to the apparent lack of faith in Miguel, the club has been eyeing Fran Garcia for a while and wants to buy him back from Rayo to fill in the spot of second choice left-back. The fact that the talented La Fabrica graduate would be available for just 5 million euros makes him a favourite option. He would be fine as a backup, and he would be a good signing in my opinion, but there is one worry.
The worrying thing is Ferland Mendy’s form and fitness, combined with the Antonio Rudiger links, which make things kinda complicated.
The 26-year-old Frenchman has been a great signing for Real Madrid, and he has been a rock-solid presence on the left flank. But he has been a liability in attacks, and his mediocrity in attack is hurting Real Madrid in an era where two-way full-backs prove to be match-winners for the top European clubs. And his fitness is another worrying factor, with the Frenchman having missed 14 games this season due to six injuries.
Antonio Rudiger’s arrival further complicates things, as his entry into the starting XI means that David Alaba might have to be shifted to the position of a left-back, or there might also be a change in the formation. This makes things tougher for Ferland Mendy, and he might be relegated to the bench in such a situation. Mendy is entering his prime, and he wouldn’t want to be a second-choice player at this age. And if Mendy himself becomes the backup player, what would be Fran Garcia’s role then? This might also open the door for a potential Ferland Mendy departure.
Things are complicated at the moment, and the solution must be perfect. Two things we know for sure at the moment are that Marcelo’s departure will create a vacant spot that will be up for grabs, and the left-back position needs to be strengthened and made much more competitive.