€80 Million For Alvaro Morata!!!!

By El Maestro

On Wednesday, Real Madrid confirmed the transfer of Alvaro Morata to Chelsea FC. Morata will replace Diego Costa as the club’s leading striker with the Spanish-Brazilian forward not being included in Antonio Conte’s plans for the upcoming season. Although Conte and Morata have not worked together, Conte did spend a summer or two trying to sign the Spanish striker when he was managing Juventus.

Having come up Real Madrid’s La Fabrica academy, Morata played two seasons with the first team where he came off the bench in Madrid’s Champions League Final victories in Lisbon and Cardiff. He also played two seasons for Italian giants Juventus where he started and scored in the 2015 Champions League Final; as well as scoring twice in the semi-finals against Real Madrid.

That being said, Morata’s transfer leaves €80 Million in Madrid’s bank account. A lot of money for a player that was backup last year to Benzema and in his second season with Juventus after the club signed Mario Mandžukić and Paulo Dybala. I’m not criticizing Chelsea for paying that huge amount because it’s how the market is, especially when 18-year old Kylian Mbappé is being linked with a €120+ million move away from AS Monaco. Regardless, it is yet another piece of business by Florentino Perez.

I don’t know how Florentino does it, but he somehow is able to get these kind of deals done. Just this summer, despite the transfer window still being open and Kylian Mbappé being linked to the club, Real Madrid have made a profit of €55 million from their signings and departures.

Signings:

• The Hernandez – €30 million
• Dani Ceballos – €17 million
• Jesus Vallejo – €5 million

Total Spent – €52 million

Departures:

• James Rodriguez – €10 million (loan fee)
• Mariano Diaz – €8 million
• Diego Llorente – €6 million
• Burgui – €3 million
• Pepe – Free transfer
• Coentrao – Loan
• Alvaro Morato – €80 million

Total Sum – €107 million

Real Madrid will even receive compensation for James Rodriguez at the end of his loan spell, regardless of whether Bayern Munich decide to use the option to buy him or not. Florentino Perez may have haters in the Spanish media, but if there is some he knows to do, it’s how to run a business.

Are Real Madrid Already Better Than Last Season?

By El Maestro

It may seem like a crazy question, especially after a double title winning season and just starting the preseason, but does Real Madrid already have a stronger squad than last season? Let’s look at Madrid’s summer signings and departures up to this point.

Departures:

• Pepe
• James
• Mariano
• Burgui
• Diego Llorente
• Coentrao

Signings and returned loanees:

• Theo Hernandez – Signing
• Dani Ceballos – Signing
• Jesus Vallejo – Signing and returned loanee
• Marcos Llorente – Returned loanee
• Borja Mayoral – Returned loanee

Real Madrid may have lost Pepe to free agency, but they replace him with 20-year old Jesus Vallejo who is already regarded as one of the best young center backs in the world. Having signed from Real Zaragoza in 2015, Vallejo returns from his successful loan spell in Germany with Eintracht Frankfurt where he help them reach the German Cup Final. Not to mention he was one of Spain’s best players in this summers U-21 Euro Cup.

Staying in defense, Real Madrid finally get a replacement for Marcelo adding 19-year old Theo Hernandez from city rivals Atletico Madrid. Despite never playing for Atletico, Theo had an outstanding season during his loan stint at Alaves and even attracted interests from other top clubs, like Barcelona and Liverpool. Speaking of replacements and Alaves, youth teamer Marcos Llorente returns from his loan spell to fight for the defensive midfield position with Casemiro. Both Theo and Llorente were regular starters at the Basque club and helped them finish 9th in the La Liga table and reach the Copa del Rey Final.

On the offensive side of the midfield, Real Madrid lose James Rodriguez to Bayern Munich, but replace him with Dani Ceballos from Betis and who was arguably the best player for Spain at the U-21 Euro Cup. The switch in hindsight is actually better for Madrid as they had a traditional midfielder to the team. James did well in the midfield, but he was an attacking midfielder. In fact, for the last two seasons, Madrid’s only backup midfielder was Mateo Kovacic. For those of you thinking about Asensio and Isco, they too are attacking midfielders. With Dani Ceballos, Real Madrid add a young midfielder who is a proper replacement for Modric and Kroos.

Not to mentioned that we’re only midway through the summer transfer period and anything can still happen. While the club had added some key additions, players like Danilo and Morata have strongly been linked away from the club. Not to mention that Borja Mayoral will probably get loaned out again in search of minutes. The Cristiano situation looks to have calmed down in recent weeks and will probably continue with the team, but Madrid need to keep an eye out in the market in case there are any additional departures.

That being said, on paper Real Madrid have arguably a better team than last season. Before, Madrid didn’t have a natural replacements for each player and needed to rely on some people to play multiple positions. This season, however, there is a natural replacement for each player.

2016/2017:

Keylor Navas/Kiko Casilla/Rubén Yáñez

Carvajal/Danilo   Ramos/Pepe   Varane/Nacho   Marcelo/Nacho

Modric/Kovacic   Casemiro/Kovacic   Kroos/James

              Bale/Isco/Lucas Vazquez   Benzema/Morata/Mariano   Cristiano/Asensio

2017/2018:                                                                                                                       * Uncertain

Keylor Navas/Kiko Casilla/Rubén Yáñez

Carvajal/Danilo*   Ramos/Vallejo   Varane/Nacho   Marcelo/Theo 

Modric/Kovacic   Casemiro/Llorente   Kroos/Ceballos

             Bale/Isco/Lucas Vazquez   Benzema/Morata*/Mayoral*   Cristiano/Asensio