How Do You Replace a Legend? - The Transfers, Rumors & Lies Thread

QSG can have Rashford. They should stay away from our players.

 

Unfortunate truth. Rodrygo seems like someone at this stage of his career that, if there's an attacker on the field who's above him in the hierarchy, that he submits to it and struggles to impose himself when given the chance. Somewhat understandably, given that he's the one who ends up being shifted to the RW and playing out of his preferred position, and he's not as good on that side as he is on the left, but in any case it seems we see the best of Rodrygo when Vini isn't around, and in particular that December spell when we saw a fair bit of combination play with Rodrygo and Jude.

I want to believe in Rodrygo, and I do think a world class player is in there, but whether that is going to happen at Real Madrid is a different question that I can't answer with confidence. He might need to go elsewhere to take that jump.

 

Selling Rodrygo would be stupid. We need him. I think Modric is done after this season and I see Kroos staying max 1 more year.

If we get Mbappe I assume we just go back to 433. You would have Belli, Cama, Tchou and Fede for the midfield. Best players (in form) start and would leave you with one very good sub. Ultimately with all injuries etc I think they would get even minutes at the end of the season.

Would leave you with Vini, Mbappe, Rodrygo for the attack. With Brahim, Endrick and Arda as back ups. If we sell Rodrygo, we need a replacement or switch back to 4312, but then we need an extra midfielder (assuming Kroos and Modric are gone).

Just splash the cash this summer for Mbappe, Davies, (RB) and Yoro and we are done spending for the coming 5 - 8 years. Squad would be insane.

 

We should get a RW to play RW instead of using a LW there.

 

Comparing Breakout Left Backs: Miguel Gutiérrez vs Fran Garcia

Miguel Gutiérrez has been having a phenomenal breakout season Girona, acting as a key piece in their title bid. Rumors suggest Real Madrid may buy him back from Girona this summer.

Last season, Real Madrid found… pic.twitter.com/CY7GFgpNlH

— The Real Deal (@RealDealPods) February 8, 2024

Here is a lengthy and interesting Twitter thread comparing Miguel’s current season with Fran’s current season and his last year at Rayo using advanced analytics.

In short, there doesn’t seem to be much of a statistical difference. Fran is 2 years older however.

 

The problem is that we aren't currently getting the Fran from Rayo.

 

Mendy's performance has been severely lacking for two seasons, plagued by injuries and errors to the extent that CA felt compelled to use a central midfielder in his position rather than risk another Mendy mishap. However, with his contract nearing its renewal phase or perhaps finally overcoming his long-term injury, his form has shown improvement. It's worth noting that the Mendy from a couple of seasons ago would have been the ideal choice to support the likes of Jr, Mbappe, and Kroos on the left flank. While his recent improvements are promising, I remain cautious about both renewing his contract and relying on him as the primary left-back.

 

The difference in pressure level of playing for Rayo and playing for us is huge IMO, it will undoubtedly affect some players, not to mention the quality of the players around him will make a difference, Fran is probably not seeing as much of the ball as he did at Rayo where it looked like he was zooming down that LW at will and being a constant attacking threat, that just won’t happen with us, especially not with Vin ahead of him, it will be the same for Miguel, still, I think it’s too early to write off Fran

 

Why so many more rumors for LB (Davies, Miguel) than RB, when our RBs are both 32, with one often injured and the other actually a makeshift RW?

 

Mendy will probably move on and there are options on the market if management doesn't see Fran panning out.

Problem is exactly what you've said. We've neglected certain areas of the team for a long time. At some point we can't pass the buck to the next season so RB and now CB needs to be addressed next year.

 

I have my doubts about Davies coming this summer.

If Floro throws the piggy bank to grab Mbappe, then it wouldn't surprise me if they try to drag the Davies saga out to get him on a free if Bayern doesn't play ball. Davies also has been injured alot and I haven't seen the Old Davies in a while. He is out 2 to 3 weeks again.

And I am fairly certain no matter what happens, Mendy is not getting extended because management have never contemplated any sort of extension. And Mendy's agent has been trying to get one for years. So the most likely scenario is that he gets sold with 1 year on his contract.

So there is a scenario where they bring Miguel back on the cheap and go one year with Miguel/Fran. If Fran doesn't turn it around then he could be sent packing. Because if he can't cut it as a back-up because of the pressure after 2 years, I don't think he has a future with Madrid. And this is coming from someone who thought he was the best La Liga LB at Rayo.

 

We don't need Davies if Mbappe is actually coming. What we need IMO is a shift in formation and to go with 3 CBs so we can have 4 midfielders and 3 attackers up front.

We could easily play Camavinga (LM) and Valverde (RM) in this role because both have played FB or a role similar. Tchouameni can still anchor and Bellingham cam move freely.

Workrate from a trident of Vinicius, Mbappe (supposed) and Rodrygo and we have an absolute machine on our hands.

Carvajal can play RM or RCB. Fran Garcia as a back LM. Ceballos as backup for Jude's free role. We already have attackers to fill the trident (Brahim, Endrick, Joselu, Arda).

I feel this is a no-brainer that would actually use our 4 midfielding geniuses to their best while incorporating another superstar attacker with our Brazilian duo.

 

Because one of our rightbacks is Lord Lucas Vazquez, who is possibly immortal.

Have you ever seen him die before? Me neither, case closed!

 

I've advocated a lot of 343; and I like Camavinga dropping into a line of 4 in transition but slotting into midfield when we are in possession. Especially with Rudiger getting so good with his long range passing. Being very direct in that sort of flexible formation would be a good option.

 

🚨 Bayern are monitoring Miguel Gutiérrez. @altobelli13, @cfbayern pic.twitter.com/R1MmPGUyPS

— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) February 9, 2024

🚨 Viní Jr has spoken to Alphonso Davies about Real Madrid. He has given him his positive opinion of the club and the city.

The two have a very good relationship. @TheAthleticFC pic.twitter.com/sdSkdseTUu

— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) February 9, 2024

🚨 Real Madrid had several talks with Alphonso Davies’ entourage to show him the project designed for him. They also asked him to not renew.

Bayern want Davies to renew & meetings are planned in the coming weeks. Bayern are still confident of convincing him. @TheAthleticFC pic.twitter.com/vom6FxaqzN

— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) February 9, 2024

🚨 Carlo Ancelotti likes Miguel Gutiérrez & would be happy if the club decides to bring him back.

Carlo also thinks that the tactical situation at Girona, where Miguel effectively plays on the wing with 3 CBs, favours him, whereas being a more conventional LB for Madrid would… pic.twitter.com/Hkip230XmJ

— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) February 9, 2024

🚨 Brentford expressed concrete interest in Miguel Gutiérrez in January & were willing to offer €25M.

It did not materialize due to Miguel not considering it seriously, his priority is to finish the season with Girona & wait for Real Madrid or bigger PL clubs. @TheAthleticFC pic.twitter.com/w89OP3Konj

— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) February 9, 2024

 

🚨🎖️| Miguel Gutiérrez prioritizes a return to Real Madrid over any other club. It’s his dream.

What happens in Alphonso Davies’ deal will have big influence on whether Madrid will go for Miguel or not. @MatteMoretto, @caughtoffside pic.twitter.com/c5uafkIrcT

— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) February 9, 2024

🎙| Ancelotti: "Miguel Gutierrez? He has improved a lot at Girona. He's playing very well, he's an important player. We will decide in summer what to do."

— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) February 9, 2024

 

We're going to trigger his buyback clause without doubt. Whether he stays with us or not is the other question, but it's a win win for us either way.

If we buy him for 8 million and flip him for 25-40 million, he can bankroll most of the Davies transfer. Or we can just keep him.

 

I don't know if you're on some moral crusade against the club lately, but no I don't get your point.

We invest in the academy to create talented youth players. Some of them have the quality to make it to the first team, most don't. Many of them do have top flight quality and are then sold for a profit for the club. Are you trying to say this is some shitty practice? Does it suck for Miguel that we invested in his development and now the player that he is can get us a financial return as a result of a mutually agreed buyback clause?

 

Hakimi is a good example of this.

Also, in hindsight we should have sold Asensio when his valuation was 100m or so, but we kept him thinking he’d be a top winger for years to come.

Glad we kept Fede and didn’t sell when we could have back in 2019 for a good profit.

We can only play 11 at a time and I’m all for developing and retaining players, but we also have to take a pragmatic approach to the squad and also the financial/business aspect of the club - it sporting project and results are always the priority.

 

We stopped doing buyback and sell thing ever since Negredo in 2009. We have 50% sell on clause so if we don't want to keep Miguel, we will collect that money when Girona accepts the offer much like Hermoso to Atlético deal where RM and Espanyol had 50% stake each.

Anyways, Davies future will be decided by summer so we will have clarity on Miguel too. If Davies renews, we can get Miguel back for 8 ME and have him as potential Mendy replacement.

 

Isn't that what we did with Morata?