Real Madrid is the king of Europe, that has been true before La Decimoquinta.
Their 15th Champions League title in May and their sixth title in 11 years may have seemed indistinguishable to others previously inspired by Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema. Yet, despite rivals having comparable resources and advantages over domestic rivals, their dominance and supremacy seemed destined to approach its third decade. Especially when, despite all the agent fees and signing bonuses, they signed Kylian Mbappe “for free”. One of the defining players of a generation, who in theory has not yet reached his peak, has contributed to the best team in Europe. His blockbuster signing, which reportedly included a staggering signing fee of €150m (£127m), initially portended a bleak outlook for fans hoping for an unpredictable win at European football’s biggest prize in the coming years.
Real Madrid is a machine, and not just on the pitch. It has built a new coliseum in perhaps the largest sporting arena in the world and is able to maximize the club’s revenues. Indeed, Florentino Perez always has a contingency plan to extend their dominance, regardless of the inevitable end of the aforementioned legendary players. Also include Toni Kroos, who gracefully bowed in May; the German maestro soared over the Wembley grass one last time in club football to ensure Borussia Dortmund left with regret. Yet there were tears of joy, not sadness or fear, at the prospect of replacing perhaps the greatest midfielder of a generation. After all, this has been meticulously planned, Los Blancos are forever isolated in case a piece of their glittering array of stars goes looking for pastures new. And that’s without a hasty look at the trendiest option available at that particular intersection, which could have led to a relentless pursuit of Rodri at the Bernabeu last summer in previous generations.
After last season’s final, Eduardo Camavinga, 22, and Federico Valverde, 26, were already integral and ready to take Kroos’ throne, while the eternal Luka Modric remains and sprinkles even more stardust on the pitch. A complete footballer with the world at his feet, the sheer strength of Jude Bellingham only adds to Real Madrid’s vast engine room, even if he prefers to thrive in the hole behind a number 9.
Not to mention Vinicius Jr., the match winner and, for some, the best footballer in the world of the past 12 months, had his Ballon d’Or inauguration ruined by Rodri after he led Spain’s rise to had orchestrated the 2024 European Championship in just a few weeks. later.
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Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe look dejected against Liverpool (Reuters)
It doesn’t matter, Vini Jr. is still only 24, the selfless Rodrygo a year younger and scrambling in the shadow of his compatriot, yet capable of becoming a leading man for almost any other European giant should he crave accolades of his own.
Then 18-year-old Endrick arrived, and the erratic Arda Guler demonstrated his dazzling impact for Turkey at the European Championships, a side brimming with enormous potential, now and in the future. So why then, just six months later, do we see Carlo Ancelotti’s side stuttering and, to some extent, left with buyer’s remorse?
No one forced them to sign Mbappe, but the French striker, electric as he is, looked uncomfortable. The fourteen goals in 24 appearances in all competitions mask Mbappe’s pain, a generous contribution on paper to an otherwise trying campaign.
He hopes a goal against the outmatched Pachuca, who will win an Intercontinental Cup medal for his troubles, can inspire him to new heights in his biggest moments. So far, Mbappe has rarely been praised by his teammates or integral to his side’s fleeting spells of dominance.
One point behind the top in LaLiga and behind local rivals Atletico, the real alarm has sounded in the newly expanded Champions League, where they sit twentieth and four points away from a top eight finish and automatic progression. The harrowing experience for Mbappé at Anfield and that stunning tackle from Conor Bradley further underlined the challenge ahead.
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Liverpool’s Conor Bradley brilliantly tackles Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé (PA)
The danger of the play-offs awaits and a hectic period to solve a problem that lingers. How do you squeeze Mbappe, Bellingham and Vini Jr into the same lineup while ensuring all of the above retain that freedom without losing the organization and tenacity of last season?
The ghosts of Claude Makelele may emerge after all, after famously sacrificing their enforcer during the galacticos era in exchange for David Beckham, which disrupted the overall team dynamic. Madrid seemed to move past that with a ruthless strategy of signing the very best young talent in the world and then jumping on free transfers once the finished product hit the market.
David Alaba, Antonio Rudiger and perhaps Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold, especially after Dani Carvajal’s terrible injury, fit in and filled gaps in the team. Yet there was no clear need for Mbappe, not yet anyway, until his play evolved to take charge and Vini Jr. to walk freely in his favorite role.
An encouraging 3-2 win at Atalanta to secure their involvement as Champions League holders until 2025 saw Bellingham move behind Mbappe.
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A brilliant player of course, but is Mbappé a bad fit for this team? (Getty)
That seems to be the combination that will determine the fate of this team this season. The rise of Liverpool under Arne Slot and a more exciting Barcelona, led by their latest iconic trio of Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha and Lamine Yamal, pose a serious threat to their crown.
Failure to find that harmony could not only lead to Los Blancos losing their European title this season, but Mbappe’s excessive wages and fierce determination to succeed could see this problem continue into next season.
Transfers in 2024 will therefore reverse the transfer, Mbappé and the unnecessary pursuit of perfection. Time will tell whether Madrid will endure another painful transfer lesson.