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As the new season is approaching fast and the teams already in their pre-season we at @managinglegends thought about how the team could line up for the upcoming season in the most sensible manner possible.

Real Madrid has already had a good transfer window and has splashed the cash on the some of the best players on the market, some being a prospect while the others already in their peak. The departure of Cristiano Ronaldo last season saw the Los Blancos slip to third position behind the crunch rivals Barcelona and Athleti and getting knocked out in the round of 16 tie against Ajax. Now with the signing of their new main man Eden Hazard as a potential replacement to Cristiano the Blancos will be looking to hit back harder this season.

Analysing the signings :

Eden Hazard (28) just had the best season as a Chelsea player and would be seen as the main man going forward and now at Madrid there is only one way we expect him to move.. upwards. All in all its a brilliant transfer for both the player and the club.

Luca Jovic (21) arrived from Eintract Frankfurt after a stellar season with the German side. The Serbian international is a clinical finisher and incredible in the air, and with age on his side he can only get better at this. Last season with half a decent side he managed around 3 shots per game and bagging 17 goals but now with midfield of Kroos and Modric those numbers can only go up. He is destined to battle out for the number 9 role with Benzema this season. But we surely see him as a starter if the former fails to deliver.

Rodrygo Goes(18) arrived from Santos for a fee of 45 million euros which might seem to be an absolute non reasonable transfer but considering the quality of the player it seems reasonable. The wonderkid has impressed with brazil under 20 and is being regarded as the future of Brazilian football. He can be a useful asset for the team coming off the bench but we clearly don’t see him getting very high number of minutes in his debut season with the club. He can be regarded as one for the future.

Eder Militao(21) comes from the Porto for a fee of 50 million euros. He is a physical centre back who is good with ball under his feet and has good passing abilities. He has impressed in the Portuguese League and with the national team. With him we are looking at a player who will be ideally a rotational player in the team and can be seen as a replacement for the veteran Sergio Ramos.

Ferland Mendy(24) is a left back who comes from Lyon for a fee of 48 million euros. He is a more defense minded player than Marcelo and Zidane would love to use him as an option who can defend. Last season Marcelo was absolutely bollocks while defending and if he continues to do so he might as well loose his place to the Frenchman. Whereas Marcelo is a better option going forward but defensively Mendy stands out he has made 1.1 interceptions per 90 compared to formers 0.7 and he is better in the air as well.

Possible line up

Zidane prefers to use a 4-3-3 system and might as well use the same system in the upcoming season. But how could Madrid line up next season?



Goalkeeper: With speculation around Keylor Navas linking him with Benfica which seems less likely to happen Madrid is left with two of the best goalkeepers for the starting spot and a prospect for the third spot in the team. The best option for Madrid could be to sell Navas and give the Belgian the starting spot though he disappointed last season and keep Lunin as the rotational player. But if a deal fails to get through for Navas then we can see him being used more in the UCL and Copa del Rey and leaving the La Liga for Courtois. Lunin would then be again send out on loan.

Defense: Zidane would trust the duo of Ramos and Varane for the starting pairing in central defence with Militao competing for minutes. Nacho is highly trusted by Zidane but we think Militao should be the third in line as Nacho can play anywhere in the back four. Though Vallejo was impressive last season but a La Liga loan spell would be ideal for the young Centre Back. On the Left Back position we might witness Marcelo loose his spot to Mendy if the lapses of concentration in defense continues by the number 12. The right back spot would be claimed by Carvajal with Odriozola on his heels to replace him in the eleven.

Midfield: Here is where the problem lies for Madrid right now. Casemiro will be the number one choice of Zidane to anchor the midfield but the CDM was not that good last season and will have to improve his game if Los Blancos want to control the middle of the park. Modric is already in his declining stages and is not getting any better though he has still got a lot to give to the group in terms of experience. Kroos seemed out of touch last season and will need to regain his form quick. Lack of signings in the midfield has left the trio as the main starting option for the whites. Isco last season was mostly benched by Scolari and was out of touch when used by Zidane. A loan deal seems imminent for Dani Ceballos and with Marcos Llorente leaving for Athleti now there are very less options for Madrid in the central park. A move for James also seems possible with both Athleti and Napoli interested. Valverde though promising is still very young for the starting place.

The Solution : Zidane has shown interests in signing Pogba but a move away from Old Trafford seems less likely at the moment and Eriksen is someone who does not seem to fit correctly in the system. Our choice though is that Madrid must pursue either Van de Beek or Fabian Ruiz. The latter has impressed us the most he managed 2.3 key passes per 90 and completes around 66 passes per 90 at 89% accuracy in Serie A last season and has impressed with Spain U-21. He is someone who can play anywhere in the midfield.

Attack: This is the section where Madrid boasts a lot of options, thus they must use their options wisely. Youngsters like Vinicius and Rodrygo bring flare but lack experience, Asensio is the one who did not live up to the expectations last season but has potential to be special. Lucas lacks quality in the attacking third and is mostly a rotational. Bale is someone whose exit seems imminent after Zidane publicly called out for his transfer. Hazard is surely now the main man on the wings. So if Bale leaves then Rodrygo, Isco and Lucas can be used on the right wing. With Hazard, Asensio, Vinicius on the left and Benzema and Jovic as the number 9.

Possible signing and transfers

James Rodrigues is the one who is heavily linked with Napoli and is likely to reunite with Ancelotti who was the one used him in the best possible manner.

Isco is someone who Madrid would be willing to sell if right offer comes or can be used to secure the signing of Fabian Ruiz.

Bale’s transfer looks imminent but he is someone who is difficult to offload with such a high wage.

Dani Ceballos is probably on his way to Arsenal on a year loan.

Mariano would be sold by Madrid if right offer is received.

Signing of either Van de Beek or Fabian Ruiz looks possible.

But can Hazard rack up 30+ goals next season? Can he fill those shoes of the greatest ever?

Last season at Chelsea under the guidance of Maurizio Sarri Hazard racked up 15 goals and 16 assists but now under Zidane and surrounded by quality midfielders like Modric, Kroos and the likes of Benzema up front for link-up play he is expected to bump up those numbers.

Hazard allover his career has impressed the most on the left wing and Zidane would love to use him on the left and will be given liberty to roam around and make things happen for Madrid. The Belgian would not fail to deliver and will prove to be clinical in winning trophies next season. He might not rack up 30-35 goals but will surely clinch the top spot for assists next season.

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