Jude Bellingham or Josko Gvardiol, who would be better for Real Madrid?
Real Madrid have been heavily linked with Borussia Dortmund gem Jude Bellingham and RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol. To sign both players, it’ll cost the club a significant amount in transfer fees, as both are rated north of €100 million. So, if the club were to sign one, who should they go for?
Bellingham is a phenomenal talent. Despite being only 19, he has showcased his ability on the biggest of stages. Whether it be the World Cup, the Champions League or in the Bundesliga. His intelligence off the ball, his interpretation of space and ability to progress the ball with penetrating passes or runs are all some of his best attributes.
Like any youngster, he has parts of his game that still need polishing. His pass selection can sometimes leave a lot wanting and his positional awareness still needs improvement. With that being said, Bellingham’s strengths far outweigh his weaknesses. The club seem to believe that he is the right midfielder to continue their rebuild with and are rumoured to be working tirelessly to sign the Englishman.
On the other hand, Gvardiol is 21-year-old centre-back who burst onto the scene last season. RB Leipzig signed him from Dinamo Zagreb in 2020. And his performances for club and country since then have put him on the radar of some of Europe’s finest. The Croatian is very composed in possession and always looks for a progressive pass, which shows that he can adapt to a more possession-based system. He also combines his technical ability with aggression and tenacity.
Bellingham or Gvardiol, who would be better for Real Madrid?
Either of these players joining the club could depend on the outgoings in the summer. Let’s say Real Madrid renew Nacho Fernandez. Their centre-back options would be David Alaba, Eder Militao, Antonio Rudiger and the 33-year-old Spaniard. Four experienced defenders who have shown their quality, adaptability and maturity over their careers. In that instance, signing Gvardiol might not be a priority.
Similarly, if the two maestros Luka Modric and Toni Kroos get contract renewals, signing Bellingham may not be a necessity.
But let’s be pessimistic and say that Nacho, and either Kroos or Modric leave the club. In this instance, who would be the better signing? Our answer is Bellingham.
In our opinion, his ceiling is higher than Gvardiol’s and his presence at another top European club can be detrimental to Real Madrid’s future Champions League aspirations. One player never determines a club’s destiny. But one player can bolster the trajectory of their present and future.