Real Madrid: How Zinedine Zidane plans to wrestle LaLiga from Barcelona and why his legacy is at stake this summer
Last summer was an uncharacteristically austere one at Real Madrid. This summer will not be.Finishing 19 points behind Barcelona does not permit that. Finishing behind Atltico Madrid for a second season in a row does not permit that. Bringing back Zinedine Zidane does not permit that.
Getty Images
5Zinedine Zidane is braced for the most important summer of his careerThe French coach has more skin than most in this summers game. The three time Champions League winner was treated like a hero when he made a shock return to the Santiago Bernabu earlier this year. Treated as the only person capable of pulling Madrid out of their mess.Zidane had the leverage needed in negotiating his comeback to earn exceptional power in the transfer window that is rarely if ever granted to a Madrid coach. He will have a huge say on who they bring in and who they move on in the coming months.The success or failure of his moves in this transfer window in returning Madrid to the top will define part of his legacy. The operations will be many and they will be complicated. The first signings, winger Rodrgyo, defender der Milito and striker Luka Jovi, are only the tip of the iceberg. The trio are support players destined to enter into squad rotation and not direct requests from Zidane, who has his sights set on far bigger targets. The kind of signings Madrid failed to make last year with disastrous consequences.This year there is no doubt over who Zidanes first priority is. A priority he has been advocating since way back in 2009, when he first returned to Madrid as an advisor to Florentino Prez.“I would bring Eden Hazard to Real Madrid with my eyes closed, the Frenchman said of the then Lille player at the time. Chelsea ultimately beat Los Blancos to the punch, but matters will soon be put right.
Getty
5Eden Hazard celebrates winning the Europa League in MayHazard ticks so many boxes for Madrid in terms of quality, suitability for constructing a new team, and availability that hes effectively a ‘tap-in’ for both Zidane and the club.The Belgian is so consistent and so clearly ready for the step up that there is not even a molecule of doubt that he will perform.The more immediate consequence of his signing this summer though is a financial one: gone are the days when Real Madrid had the monetary advantage needed to out-muscle all-comers in the market.The economic strength of the top Premier League sides, Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus means that with Hazard through the door, the Spanish giants will have to be more selective about their subsequent moves and how they use their resources.
Getty Images
5Luka Modric and Toni Kroos had a tough season in Madrid and are battling for their placesSo while the faltering performances of Toni Kroos and Luka Modric last season make it clear that a big-name midfielder needs to be brought in, there isnt the financial leeway to bring in two.Zidane prefers Paul Pogba, the club prefers Christian Eriksen. The resolution of that battle, how the chosen player performs, and who their principle backer at Madrid was, will be remembered.Sign Pogba, suffer a flat season from the France international at huge expense, and Zidanes support of him will not be overlooked. Or vice-versa, should the midfielder return to the level he showed at Juventus.Clinton Morrison says it comes as no shock that Christian Eriksen wants to leave TottenhamNegotiations for either midfielder will be prolonged and tricky, but a more straightforward operation is Ferland Mendy.The Lyon left-back is Zidanes express request to compete with the declining Marcelo, and the coach will get his way.Zizou already contacted the 23-year-old directly to convince him that he is in line to get enough minutes in 2019/20 to compete for a spot in Frances Euro 2020 squad, showing the Madrid boss is ready to be ruthless with the underperforming veteran who currently defends the left side of the defence. But as a key player in so many trophy wins, Marcelos shoes are big ones to fill, and there will be a large amount of scrutiny on the successor chosen by Zidane.
Getty Images
5Mendy is one of Europe’s best young full-backsThen there are his choices regarding who to move on. Funds are not limitless, and to complete the level of signings planned this summer, Madrid need to balance the books to the tune of around 200m in sales.Isco, Dani Ceballos, James Rodrguez, Marcos Llorente and Mateo Kovai are all likely candidates. Ral de Toms meanwhile, despite his strong season on loan at Rayo Vallecano, failed to do enough to earn support from Zidane, the signing of Jovi suggests.And this time around there was no great protest in favour of Keylor Navas either, who will finally be moved on to clear the way for under-fire Thibaut Courtois.This time Zidane picked his battles. One battle the manager has taken up though is his clear push to get rid of Gareth Bale, the Welshman dropped for two matches in a row then an unused substitute, denied any kind of send-off in the last game of the season at the Bernabu. No ambiguity about Zidanes wishes there.
Getty Images
5Gareth Bale looks set to leave Real Madrid this year, whether on loan or permanentlyShould any of the players who depart go on to perform exceptionally elsewhere it will likely become a point of contention remember the fuss over what happened with Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder after being ushered out the door not too long ago. And this time, the buck stops with the manager.Every time Zidane says yes, says no, or says nothing at all in the coming weeks, it has the potential to be a moment of great consequence when conclusions are made this time next year.Club legend or otherwise, Zizou has a huge amount at stake this summer.
Mauro Icardi: Chelsea and Juventus transfer target not featured in Inter Milan kit launch, prompting rumours he will leave Mauro Icardi has not been featured in Inter's kit launch for the 2019/20 season fuelling speculation he could be on his way out of the club.
Juventus 'ready to launch new bid for Inter captain Mauro Icardi'
West Ham United were unequivocal that it was £50million or nothing for Marko Arnautovic in January. The striker was the subject of interest from two Chinese clubs during the winter window. According to the likes of The Telegraph West Ham rejected a £35million bid for the Austrian 'out of hand'. Whether it was 'not being […]
West Ham Reject Big Transfer Fee For Marko Arnautovic - Thewistle
Arsenal transfer news, rumours, gossip and deals from deadline day Inter Milan's Ivan Perisic and PSG's Christopher Nkunku are still in the works. A deal for Denis Suarez is as good as
Arsenal transfer news: Perisic? Carrasco? Nkunku? David
About our Manchester United news NewsNow aims to be the world's most accurate and comprehensive Manchester United news aggregator, bringing you the latest Red Devils headlines from the best Man United sites and other key national and international news sources. Whether it's the very latest transfer news from Old Trafford, quotes from an Ole
Manchester United fail in £95m swoop for Koulibaly after
Previous Post Previous post: Ryan Babel blames broken promises for failed Liverpool spell and insists he has 'unfinished business' in the Premier League Next Post Next post: Jurgen Klopp claims it's his fault Mohamed Salah doesn't score more Liverpool goals after Egyptian reaches landmark strike
Simeone excited to extend unbeaten run » GodGoBless
Unai Emery is doing a 'really good job' at Arsenal but needs time Macclesfield boss inspired by Guardiola and Klopp for their 'passion' "Even from my Tottenham days, people like Jurgen Klinsmann, like Gary Mabbutt - he was a proper professional, you know he's not going to muck around, he's going to do everything in his power to
Arsenal Invincible has a message for Gunners fans over the
Paris Saint-Germain vs Marseille: Which TV channel is it on and can I live stream it? The match will be broadcast on BT Sport 2 this weekend with their coverage getting underway from 7:45pm. Bet365 will also have a free live stream of the action available on their website if you are a registered customer.
Paris Saint-Germain vs Marseille free live stream: TV channel
gistjunction.com/2019/03/16/paris-saint-germain-vs-marseille-free-live-stream-tv-channel-details-kick-off-time-and-team-news-for-le-classique/
Paris Saint-Germain vs Marseille free live stream: TV channel details, kick-off time and team news for Le Classique this season when they take on Le Classique
PSG vs Marseille: TV channel, live stream, team news
Chelsea Have No Plans to Fine Kepa Arrizabalaga After Carabao Cup Row With Maurizio Sarri ?Chelsea have no intentions of punishing Kepa Arrizabalaga after the goalkeeper dramatically refused to be substituted during the side's Carabao Cup final clash against Manchester City.
Eden Hazard Says Chelsea 'Are Playing For' Maurizio Sarri
Wolves fan slapped with three-year ban for throwing pie at West Ham supporter says it flew out her mouth while coughing A WOLVES fan banned for hurling a pie at a rival supporter claims it
Wolves fan receives ban for throwing pie at West Ham supporter
Crystal Palace goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey was deemed to have a "lamentable" degree of ignorance about Adolf Hitler and fascism by the panel that cleared him of a Football Association (FA) charge
Ajax were due to face De Graafschap on Sunday afternoon, while Spurs played West Ham on Saturday lunchtime, losing 1-0 and they will be without a host of key players for tonight, including Heung-Min Son and Harry Kane. "The reality is they are going to have more time to prepare and avoid risk," Pochettino said.
Five things we learned from the Premier League weekend
News Corp is a network of leading companies in the worlds of diversified media, news, education, and information services. Tommy Robinson punches England fan to the ground outside Nations League
Old Trafford - Premier League - epl.blogflop.com
0 Comments