Real Madrid need to be one of the more active teams among the Champions League contenders this summer transfer window in order to return to being one of the true favorites in the competition. With holes littered across the squad in this difficult start to the Kylian Mbappe era, here are the three best overall players Los Merengues to bring into the fold this year. These are the best players regardless of need, position, or anything else. And no, Michael Olise and Erling Haaland don't count, because, right now, there is zero indicatinon they will be available.
Como CM Nico Paz
At this point, Nico Paz to Real Madrid is basically a guarantee, but he is more than just an obvious and cheap signing at nine million euros (because he is already 50 percent a Real Madrid player). No, Paz is the best footballer in Serie A, even above another name who finds himself on this list, and the 21 year old Ballon d'Or darkhorse is already displaying a level of leadership the Merengues are clearly lacking in the middle of the park.
Como are in the Champions League conversation because of Paz, who is more than just a No. 10. Yes, he scores and assists a lot, but he also defends very hard and is the source of the club's main ball progression. For years, Madridistas were wondering who could possibly be the heir to Luka Modric. Maybe they already had him.
RB Leipzig RW Yan Diomande
Real Madrid probably don't need to sign another forward this summer transfer window, but with Rodrygo Goes coming off an ACL tear and some quiet depth issues with no true right winger in the squad and attacking midfielders Brahim Diaz and Franco Mastantuono as the lone backups when they are too slow, a right winger is actually a real need for Real.
Michael Olise is totally out of the question, because Bayern Munich are not going to sell. But the Bundesliga's second best option is Yan Diomande, a teenage sensation who has literally every big club in England after him. Diomande is elite on both the left and right flank, and explosive and highly technical weapon who can score and create. He is Real Madrid coded.
Inter Milan LWB Federico Dimarco
Federico Dimarco is more wing back than true left back, but, well, so was Marcelo. Dimarco is the best ball striker in world football right now, pulling off goals and crosses from anywhere on the pitch that should have Florentino Perez salivating. A wing back pairing of Trent Alexander Arnold and Dimarco would be a bit unbalancing, but maybe Real Madrid need to lean into this identity.
But also, with 2.5 combined tackles and interceptions this season to 0.6 dribbles allowed per game, Dimarco is actually an amazing one on one defender, so that issue is also overblown. And the attacking benefits with 17(!) assists cannot be undersold.
Add us as a preferred source on Google