Real Madrid chiefs made two massive transfer errors in January

Real Madrid have succeeded in staying just one point below Barcelona in the La Liga table after a 2–1 win against 18th-placed Rayo Vallecano. That said, Los Blancos were hardly convincing in their overall performance, and it could have led to a huge upset if not for a 90+10th minute penalty goal from Kylian Mbappe.

With the turn of the year, Real fans have witnessed their team struggle on the pitch, with a lot of changes happening off it all at once. As a result, some supporters were looking forward to the winter transfer window as an opportunity for the board to fix the shortcomings.

However, with the deadline now over, it hardly seems to be the case. Infact, here are two massive transfer mistakes Real chiefs made that might cost them dearly moving forward.

Failure to sign any new players despite having the opportunity

Real failed to bring in any new signings, which was probably a necessity, especially in the middle of the park, where the team has lacked control ever since the departure of Toni Kroos and Luka Modric. Meanwhile Jude Bellingham has also picked up an injury and will miss about a month of action, further deepening the crisis.

Notably, Real were presented with an opportunity to sign Portuguese superstar Ruben Neves during the winter window and he was reportedly keen to join the fifteen-time Champions League winners. 

The 28-year-old, who currently plays for Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal, would have been a great addition. However, the Real board decided against the move, even though recent showings from the squad suggest Real should have pursued it.

Bizarre decision to prevent out-of-favour star from a deadline-day exit

Real’s left-back position has seen a lot of change in recent times, with Alvaro Carreras emerging as the first-choice option and producing some really solid performances since his arrival in the summer.

However, this has shaken up the rest of the pecking order. Ferland Mendy, who is known to be injury-prone, is the second choice, followed by Eduardo Camavinga. This has effectively placed Fran Garcia as the fourth-choice left-back, as revealed by The Athletic. This surely isn’t a situation any player would like to be in.

Surprisingly, Real seemingly could have parted ways with Garcia on deadline day, which would have been an ideal solution given the 26-year-old’s reduced role. 

Indeed, reports have emerged suggesting that Bournemouth were keen to secure the services of the Spanish left-back, but Los Blancos decided against it and blocked the move. This was certainly a bizarre decision, as Garcia could have developed his abilities with regular playing time at Bournemouth.

All things considered, it remains to be seen how these decisions will affect the team’s results this season, which has not been going particularly well for Real by any means. That said, if the club has taught its fans one thing, it’s to never lose hope. Moreover, Los Blancos do have a habit of proving doubters wrong, so fingers crossed.