With the summer transfer window now finally over, let's take a look back at the last three months and assess how the transfer window went for Real Madrid.
Yesterday (Tuesday, the 1st of September), the summer transfer window slammed shut for all of Western Europe, therefore including Real Madrid.
So, what better time to analyse the summer transfer window in depth than now?
It’s safe to say that Los Blancos were extremely busy in the market. The club brought in Denzel Dumfries (Inter Milan), Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool via free agency), Marc Cucurella (Chelsea), Bernardo Silva (Manchester City via free agency), Yan Diomande (RB Leipzig, club record deal), and Carlos Espi (Levante). Endrick also returned from his loan spell at Ligue 1 side Lyon.
Meanwhile, Fran Garcia (Real Betis), Dani Ceballos (mutual contract termination, later also joined Betis), Cesar Palcios, Gonzalo Garcia (Fulham), David Alaba, Dani Carvajal (released), and Franco Mastantuono (Fiorentina, loan) all departed the club.
Then, there was who Real Madrid did not sign, most notably a midfielder, and namely Rodri, who joined Barcelona instead. But there was also who they were able to keep, with Vinicius Jr signing a six year contract, amid links to Arsenal when he only had one year remaining.
Overall, this feels like a pretty good window. Nobody of huge significance left, perhaps barring Gonzalo Garcia, but it is clear that he is in a better place to develop. It is also handy to get Ceballos' wages off the books.
Then, a few positions have been addressed with the incomings. It was clear that there a left back was needed. Alvaro Carreras has proven not to be at the requisite level, and Garcia departed the club. Ferland Mendy is not good enough anymore either, and even if he was, he's always injured. It is not ideal to have to have Eduardo Camavinga out of position there, even if he can "do a job there". Therefore, Cucurella was a great addition.
With Carvajal leaving, some cover for Trent Alexander-Arnold was required, so Dumfries was a smart addition. With Alaba also leaving, central defensive reinforcements were needed, they probably were anyway in truth, so Konate on a free seems very sensible. Truth be told, to touch on that previous point, one more central defender would have been ideal, but you can't win them all.
In midfield, Silva is a welcome addition, though the failed pursuit of Rodri cannot be simply glossed over as minor, even if that is what the club are doing themselves. If they were going in for Rodri, it is clear that they wanted that sort of midfielder, and well, they did not get one - not with him nor an alternative.
Meanwhile, a replacement for Garcia up top was always going to be necessary, so for just 20 million Euros or so, Espi again feels like smart business, and it was his goal that secured all three points away to Espanyol, preventing a nightmare start to the season.
Finally, with Diomande, the club have finally got a player who prefers to play on the right than the left (even though he has done both). It was a very expensive signing, but someone who will definitely add even more dynamism.
Overall verdict: Good window, could have been better. Team are definitely in a better place than the end of last season. Let's see.
