While the biggest opponents of Madrid's "Real" club played with millions in the summer player market, the royal club closed the transfer window without any unexpected deals.
The fans of the "Blancos" team will not see any new faces in their team until January 2018 - this transfer window was the last one before the approaching suspension for the "Real" team. Due to illegally signed contracts with underage players, the UEFA Champions League winners, together with the Madrid "Atletico" club, were punished with a two-player transfer window disqualification.
"Real" will not be able to participate in both the 2017 winter and summer player market. Having spent record amounts for the best players on the planet almost every year, "Real" decided this summer that it is almost impossible to improve the current squad.
Such opinions are shared not only by Zinedine Zidane, but also by the controversial club president Florentino Perez. He stated at a press conference yesterday: "We have an impressive team that is simply impossible to strengthen. Zidane and his coaching staff have taken responsibility for this and are determined to prove what we can really achieve with the current team."
Despite how strange it may sound, "Real" not only did not spend, but also earned this summer. The most notable summer purchase - Alvaro Morata, was bought back from Turin's "Juventus" club for 30 million euros. The Madrid team did not have to spend more this summer.
Several graduates of the "Real" team left. Jese Rodriguez was sold to Paris Saint-Germain for 25 million euros, Denis Cheryshev cost 7 million euros for "Villarreal", and "Real" earned another 2.5 million euros from Alvaro Medran (sold to "Valencia" for 1.5 million euros) and Omar Mascarello (sold to "Eintracht" for 1 million).
However, the Spanish vice-champions failed to invest large sums in strengthening the team. One of the most promising Spanish footballers, Marco Asensio, returned to the team after a loan at Espanyol this season, scoring two goals in the first two matches and helping to win the UEFA Super Cup.
In addition to the main team, forward Mariano Diaz, who shone in the "Castilla" team last season, joined the team, providing competition for Alvaro Morata and Karim Benzema. Left back Fabio Coentrao also returned to the club after a loan spell, providing competition for Marcelo throughout the season.
Looking at the "Real" team lineup, it seems that F. Perez's words about the difficult improvement of the squad can be agreed upon. The most prestigious champions league team has two or three world-class players in almost every position.
Having such a selection of substitute players can only be found in the most valuable club in the world. Z. Zidane's biggest headache this summer was not the choice of new players, but how to properly distribute playing minutes to each player in such competition.
Many would probably agree that Z. Zidane is not the kind of coach who likes to improvise with starting lineups. The secret weapon of French football legend Casemiro, who has been untouchable in the squad since Z. Zidane's arrival, is the stable performance in the center of the pitch that impressed the coach.
Z. Zidane cannot imagine his team's game without a true defensive midfielder. Whether playing in the Champions League final or against La Liga minnows, Casemiro in the midfield stops any attempts by opponents to reach Keylor Navas or Kiko Casilla's goal.
However, the most interesting thing is that "Real" does not have any backup for Casemiro in that position. This is a fundamental position in Z. Zidane's philosophy of play, so the lack of a second defensive midfielder could become a surprise for the season if Casemiro is injured. In this case, Toni Kroos would most likely be brought in to play in that position, although he is not a natural player for that role.
"Real" is aware of this issue but hopes to avoid it. As a contingency plan, Marcos Llorente, loaned to Deportivo Alaves this season, was included in the squad with a clause that would allow the promising Spaniard to return in January if necessary.
Another headache for Z. Zidane is attacking midfielders. They have three in their team - Marco Asensio, Isco, and James Rodriguez. None of them have a place in Z. Zidane's current starting lineup. It was expected that one of these players would leave in the final days of the summer, but neither Isco nor J. Rodriguez left the Real team.
With a few exceptions, it can be said that the composition of "Real" for the season is well put together. For years, the Madrid team was criticized for constant summer purchases, but criticism also came when they decided to be passive during the transfer window.
Whether this method adopted by Z. Zidane will help the "Real" club can only be speculated. Looking at past seasons, it seemed that constant purchases disrupted the team's goals. For years, a club like "Real" lacked a strategist who fully trusted his team and continued working in the field without flashy purchases.
The best example is Pep Guardiola's Barcelona, which with the same core team managed to win titles season after season and become one of the best teams in the world.
However, there is also the example of Frank Rijkaard's Barca, which eventually fell after such attempts. "Real" could experience the same, but their situation will be even more complicated - they will no longer be able to splash their millions on new players and will have to wait until January 2018.
Real Madrid transfers during the 2016-17 offseason:
Arrivals: (spent 30 million euros)
Alvaro Morata (30 million euros, bought back from "Juventus")
Marco Asensio (returned from loan at "Espanyol")
Fabio Coentrao (returned from loan at "Monaco")
Mariano Diaz (joined from youth team)
Lucas Silva (returned from loan at "Marseille", but does not play due to heart problems)
Departures: (earned 34.5 million euros)
Jese (25 million euros, transferred to PSG)
Denis Cheryshev (7 million euros, transferred to "Villarreal")
Omar Mascarello (1 million euros, transferred to "Eintracht")
Alvaro Medran (1.5 million euros, transferred to "Valencia")
Alvaro Arbeloa (contract expired)
Loaned out:
Marcos Llorente (to "Deportivo Alaves")
Jesus Vallejo (to "Eintracht")
Burgui (to "Sporting Gijon")
Diego Llorente (to "Malaga")
Borja Mayoral (to "Wolfsburg")
Aivaras Katutis
