The January transfer window is already halfway through, and most of the action in the remaining time can be expected from the Madrid "Real" team. After the news of FIFA's ban on acquiring players, this football transfer window may be the only opportunity to strengthen the team's lineup in the next 18 months. Almost everyone expects big and expensive purchases. However, it is interesting that the history of Real's January purchases is like day and night compared to what happens in the summer. The Madrid team has acquired many stars and successful purchases in the summer, while the January transfer windows were often filled with unsuccessful newcomers like Antonio Cassano, Julian Faubert, or Thomas Gravesen. Although finding true January successes in Real's recent history is truly difficult, Tim Collins from Bleacher Report has selected the five most successful Real Madrid signings of the last decade. 5. Diego Lopez When Real decided to strengthen their team in January, they usually looked to South America for their newcomers, but in 2013 the team found their purchase far from home. After Iker Casillas suffered a serious hand injury, the Madrid team spent 3.5 million euros to bring back Diego Lopez from the Sevilla club, where he had already taken on the role of substitute goalkeeper a year before. Lopez's second stint in the team was not easy, as he found himself in a battle between Casillas and the former team coach Jose Mourinho, who decided to keep him on the bench even after the club legend recovered and appointed Lopez as the main goalkeeper. However, even when Carlo Ancelotti took over the team, Lopez remained the main goalkeeper of the club and played 36 out of 38 matches in the La Liga championship in the 2013-2014 season. Although he later moved to the Milan team, the 18 months he confidently defended the team's goal more than compensated for the amount paid for the player by the Real club. 4. Casemiro In the same transfer window where they acquired Diego Lopez, Real also called up Casemiro to their team. When the Brazilian joined the club from Sao Paulo in January, he arrived on loan basis and instead of playing for the first team, he was sent to the Castilla team. In the summer, Real took the opportunity to buy out his contract. It must be admitted that Casemiro, unlike other players on this list, took more time to have an impact on the team's game, but after last season on loan at the Porto team, the 23-year-old midfielder proves this season that he is a great signing and player capable of successfully playing in the royal club. Under the coaching of Rafa Benitez, Casemiro gained a lot of confidence, and the coach appreciated his determined battle for the ball and persistent work in defense. Now the midfielder can only hope that Zinedine Zidane will rate him just as highly. 3. Lassana Diarra In 2016, it is unimaginable that Real would spend 20 million euros to acquire a player from the Portsmouth club. But in 2009, that's exactly how they acquired Lassana Diarra. For a defensive midfielder, this sum seemed too high to many, but he immediately proved with his play that he was worth it. Under the coaching of Juande Ramos, Diarra immediately became a key figure in the defensive line, and his strength, composure, and defensive help were exactly what the team needed. No wonder he was compared to Claude Makelele at the time. Diarra remained important in the team, even when coached by Manuel Pellegrini or Jose Mourinho, and in 2012, when his career at the Real club ended, he played over a hundred matches and became one of the few successful signings during the winter transfer window. 2. Gonzalo Higuain Gonzalo Higuain was never beloved in the Real Madrid team. Never. And he can still think of reasons why it was like that. Arriving in 2007, the Argentine didn't immediately fit in at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium, but when he did, he immediately became productive. After 10 goals in the first two years at the club, Higuain scored 22 in the 2008-2009 season and 27 after a year. When Real won the championship title in the 2011-2012 season, he added 22 precise strikes. Higuain scored important goals - his goal in the 2007-2008 season secured the club the title. But it seems that everyone focused only on situations where he didn't excel. Even the worst-played matches against him received strong criticism. He was great. But he was never beloved. 1. Marcelo He was acquired in January 2007. After almost a decade, he is still here. And, probably, he is now showing the best performance of his career. Simply put, Marcelo is undoubtedly the best January signing of the Real Madrid team in the last decade.
