] For me it's neither him or Pepe. Both fantastic for us and important, but the legend tag gets thrown around way too easy.
I'd only consider Ron, Ramos, Marcelo, Modric and Benzema as legends from that CL dominant team. Casemiro, Kroos and Carva could get there after few more years.
What about Bale? Benzena doesn’t get the legend status based on the CL due to the fact 1 goal in 4 finals as a starter is an abysmal return for the starting no.9 (all 4 games). Marcelo, Casemiro and Asensio all grabbed a goal in a final along the way and didn't need the GK to hand it to them on a silver platter. Benzema maybe gets legend status due to longevity, but not because he was some super crack who showed up with game winning goals in career defining moments. In 4 CL and 3 Copa del Rey finals he has 1 goal. I think Varane misses out on the legend status because he wasn't really a full time starter until Pepe left and then he was just fulfilling that role without additional responsibilities. He doesn't have a trademark "highlight" but that's forgivable for a defender, there's just nothing that pushes him over the edge. For example Ramos was captain, plays the ball out of defense, gets forward to score goals, takes PK's - he contributes alot more than just being a good defender.
He is a WC winner and an early bloomer, looked fantastic at 19, twice as good as Ramos was at that age. Pepe worked out great and if Vini and Rodrygo reach his level in 10 years they would've done well too, but I expected much more from him. Isco and Asensio disappointed too, but I didn't have the same expectations of them that I had of Varane. Sucks.
You gotta win other KO games to reach the final. Benz scored in 2014 semis, double vs Bayern in 2018 semis, iconic move in 2017 semis vs Atlético when RM were under pressure 2-0 down. Benz had many crucial contributions in our 4 CL wins.
The problem yet again, criteria, from varying random ( personal) view points, who did what when, how much, against whom, and on and on to determine the "legends"
Agreed, I think it's very subjective. Problem with Varane is it felt like he stagnated between 22 to 28. But unlike other players at his age, he was already near world class at 22.
I think the issue with Varane is: 1) over the past few years he has made some very serious mistakes in important games or in key moments of the season 2) these errors were occurring while playing next to Ramos (arguably the best in his position for quite some time) which showed a huge contrast. Ramos made mistakes at times too, but he also papered over errors or did something unexpected which helped, especially leadership post Ronaldo For me, Varane has looked like he's coasting at times, distracted at others since the last WC, and that has left bad taste. I still would have preferred to not make these radical changes at the back this summer but there are bigger problems right now.
🚨| If Mbappé doesn't arrive, Real Madrid are planning to form a 'Galactic' trio with Hazard, Benzema and Bale. @diarioas [🥈]— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) July 19, 2021 hazard would be fit for only 20% of matches and Bale around 40% of matches, both forming a galactic trio is a rare occurrence Still cannot understand that why would not Real Madrid simply force hazard out or pressure him to reduce his wages , he does not make any difference in the games he plays.
Fair enough, but IMO, this can be applied to every single player on this team, hence our only trophy being the league trophy which, funnily enough was, again IMO, won on the back of............... a solid defence , not saying he hasn't made mistakes, but not sure why he's so singled out as stagnating, the team has sat in the same spot for those past few years too, lacking goals
That's the "it takes a team" argument. Everybody had crucial moments Varane included. I guess we're gonna have to make Isco and Lucas Vasquez hall of famers also, because you know "crucial moments." What about DiMaria's dribble against Atleti in La Decima - legendary enough or just support staff level. Hard to make Benzema a legend of the 4xCL teams if Bale's not included seeing as how Bale's got more sceen time on the highlight reel. The 2014 CL/La Decima was a Ramos masterclass, that's the storyline - it's a stretch to bring Benz into the equation as a clutch legendary performer on that one. His goals in the semi and final in 2018 were unforced GK errors, great that he didn't trip on his shoelaces and fnck them up but not really the stuff of "legends". Benz probably on the right side of fence of legendaryness but he certainly didn't become "Mr. Champions League" as was the prognosis when he was being compared to Higuain early on his career. Possibly the first striker in the history of the club to score 5 goals in a season and keep his place on the roster, the no. 9 shirt and the same starting CF position - it's the stuff of legends.
🚨| Gareth Bale’s Real Madrid contract was prior to Brexit. According to my information, this means he does not take up an extra non-EU place in the squad.@JLSanchez78 [🎖]— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) July 21, 2021
This is something the club would already know and explains why there hasn't been any panic. Now take a step back and look at the idiots who were reporting this. Now you know they have no sources, no connections to the club and are just seeing things and making them up. Educated guesses they report as fact.
The club played an ineligible player in Copa del Rey against Cadiz and got disqualified in process. It's not out of the world to assume such situation would arise that makes us sacrifice one of the 3 guys in the said report to keep Bale in squad. Good to see the contract was pre-brexit so we'll be able to retain all.
A 3 digit membership card holding Bayern member (basically one of the first 1000 members) is quitting on the club. There was an article about him, he's leaving because of how commercial football has become, the kind of money the players are asking for etc. His choice but at the end of the day these guys are doing a job. Bayern are always proud of their financial numbers, and somehow tricked players into playing for a lot less than their international competition. As young players grow more open to playing abroad, Bayern will have to deal with the fact that the "mir San mir" stuff doesn't do it anymore. I'd be incredibly keen on Goretzka and Kimmich.
Lewandowski is the highest paid and even he's only earning like 10 ME nett. Great value for money from Bayern's perspective, but now players are aware how much they could get from PL/RM/Barca/PSG.
Reports in Germany are that Goretzka is irritated that the media members close to Bayern have already started a "greedy player isn't happy with Bayern's humble offer" campaign.
I really wonder what Perez and Jose Angel Sanchez are planning behind the scenes. On the surface, yes we are massively hit by the pandemic and it has affected our short term cash flows. On one hand you see Barca signing up new players left and right, plus taking out a major loan from Goldman Sachs. On the other hand there is us, who had the most valuable brand, most successful team, highest revenue generating team etc. just a couple of years ago and now we are pinching pennies? It just doesn't make sense. The season before covid we made more money than Man Utd (€757m vs €711m), but somehow even though they are also saddled with debt from the Glazers, they are the ones buying Sancho for €80m, Varane for €50m, and still shopping. What the hell is the catch here???
Who have Barca singed really that it’s worth talking about? Whilst we’re genuinely close to the most sought after player on the planet.
As far as I know that loan was supposed to cover for an other loan that was up for the summer. Pretty much like a bandaid. Barca are financially run like a corner store.
We have 35+ players on the wagebill. There won't be Jovic, Ceballos, Theo, Odri type signings anymore just to add to that number. We want Mbappe. Barca got Aguero, Depay, Garcia for free. We got Alaba for free. Only Aguero is world class from Barca signings but he barely played last season due to injury and is old.
Btw Utd bought for the sake of it last season (VDB, Telles) and looking to get rid of both this summer but unlikely due to their wages. People just want some signings and don't care if they are RM quality or not. No thanks. Money wasted like that means less money to get a real world class player like Mbappe or Haaland when they are available. You settle for a Jovic or Werner and will be looking for a scorer again next season with less money in the coffers and an increased wage bill.