There are two undeniable realities about Real Madrid’s 23/24 sports planning before the beginning of the season: the team lacks strikers and goals. With just four forwards on the squad and the lowest conversion rate in the past ten years, the white team has enough evidence to charge the sports management with inadequate planning. But long before the previous season ended, Madrid had a well-thought-out plan, which was completely blown up at the beginning of June when Benzema made the decision to leave for Arabia and there was no longer any space for maneuver.
Madrid made it apparent that Bellingham would be its headline addition for the season. The deal, which started to boil more than a year ago, required a substantial outlay of funds—more than 100 million euros—to win over the jewel of European football. Bellingham was the white club’s choice, and more funding was not available. Above all, because the substantial investment was made in anticipation of Mbappé or Haaland in the summer of 2024. The white club did not fund for the purchase of a fantastic forward for this season because it anticipated that Benzema would leave in 2024 rather than 2023.
Neither MBAPPÉ nor Kane…
The greatest attackers for the white team started to be mentioned as soon as Benzema left Real Madrid. First was Kane, a player the Real Madrid sports management never gave much thought to due to two factors: his cost and the fact he has other goals for 2024. The economic aspect must be emphasized because Florentino Pérez and José Ángel Sánchez control every aspect of the club’s finances to the last detail, never taking risks that could jeopardize the overall balance. For this reason, Mbappé, the second name to emerge this summer, was likewise not given much weight.
The Mbappé case began because PSG will not let him leave for free in 2024, not because the white club made any moves. Madrid will attempt to recruit Mbappé for the upcoming season (for free, but at a large premium). Even while various sums were considered, Madrid was always clear that it could not afford to confront an operation of 400 million euros, let alone do it with Kane. Bellingham was the season’s biggest acquisition, and nearly the whole transfer market budget was allocated to it. It was decided at the Bernabéu that it was time to stick with what we had, even if it was not the greatest short-term answer, and that buying another elite striker would be detrimental in light of the Mbappé or Haaland operation.
THE PERIODS
Every position in the season schedule included two players. A vulnerability was identified in the left back position in the 22–23 campaign, which is why Madrid chose Fran García to fill in for Mendy in light of his health issues. It was agreed to stick with Carvajal and Lucas Vázquez for the right back position, keeping the door open for some of the other players to break through next season. Alphonso Davies has a strategy for 24/25 for the left lane as well.
Additionally, Rafa Marín, who is now on loan at Alavés, is a contender to join Militao, Alaba, Rüdiger, and Nacho in the defense, so the center of the defense is not left up to chance. His arrival would ease Nacho’s potential exit should he choose not to play out the optional year he signed in June, as well as compliment these four defenders.