Hazard has been playing as a striker, as well. That might be the plan for him, if we do get him.

Hazard as false 9 hasn't been working for Chelsea and he hates playing it.

Doubt, even before our time, Madrid ever did things the easy or sensible way.

Zees wrote:Hazard as false 9 hasn't been working for Chelsea and he hates playing it.

I wasn’t aware of that. I guess that’s out of the question then.

I really don't think a man who has refused to spend big for the last 4 years would spend 100m on a 29-year old with only one year left in his contract.

If Hazard comes this summer, it'll be for a price significantly lower than that. And if by chance Chelsea refuses to lower the price (assuming that's really the price they are asking for their 29-year old sideways-dribbling king), and knowing Florentino, he'll just wait for next summer to get him for free.

BTW, since 2014 I have been waiting for Florentino to sign an established star without the latter being in his last year of contract.

All the news sources are stating this 100m figure so that is what I have to go off of.

100m last summer with 2 years left on his contract would have been worth it. 100m this coming summer with 1 year left, that's a joke. But hey, I don't pay the bills for RM, I just think the money could be better spent elsewhere.

I hear you. I, too, think it would be absolutely dumb to spend 100m for Hazard given his contractual situation, age and talent.

Maybe you're right, maybe that's really what Chelsea is asking for him. I just have a hard time picturing someone like Florentino, who, let's face it, has become really cheap in recent years paying that sum for a guy who's no longer a spring chicken and who doesn't have the marketability of Cristiano or the talent of Messi.

vanDEEZ wrote:Woo off by a year. Big deal. The point is that I hope we aren’t spending 100m on a player with 1 year left on his contract who will have 0 resale value in 4-5 years when he nears the end of his contract.

If he’s cheap, great, but I’d rather RM spend money on a striker or CM or CB.

I don't get the point of worrying about stuff like this. Only small and mid-sized clubs should consider this factor when signing a player. Unlike teams like Porto, Monaco, Lyon etc... transfer fees make up a negligible percentage of Madrid's overall revenue streams. It's annoying when fans of big clubs do this. Do you just want bragging rights for having market savviness and not getting fobbed by other teams?

Juventus just paid $100 million for an even older player. Hazard would be an even bigger coup for Madrid (sporting wise).

What are you saying Farfan, Hazard will be finished in 1.5 when he turns 30. We are spending 100 mil for 1.5 year of a player, this is definitely a bad signing

Mr Nick09 wrote:What are you saying Farfan, Hazard will be finished in 1.5 when he turns 30. We are spending 100 mil for 1.5 year of a player, this is definitely a bad signing

Yep It will be just as bad as signing 29-year old Zidane back in 2001 for a then-record fee. And the piece of shit just retired at the end of his contract, no resale value whatsoever

Jeez you guys are so thick sometimes. What spending of ours in the past 3-4 years tells you we’re gonna spend more than 100m? If Hazard is 100m that’s our business next summer. No new ST, no new CM, no new RW. That means Bale stays, Benz is number 1, Mariano number 2, Modric starts.

How sustainable is that beyond this season?

1) our budget is just 100 mil now? I think you listen to too many English media's who say we have no money to spend lmao

2) what's wrong with keeping the team as is now with the loans we have coming back? We are seeing how when the team is well managed, they are performing and young players like Llorente, Ceballos, Reguillon are emerging?

This idea that we will revamp the team in one summer is not happening. Whoever is thinking that needs to chill

I didn’t reference any English pundits, I ask: what spending of ours in the past 3-4 seasons tells us that we have more than 100m to spend. And I’m not saying to revamp the entire squad, I listed 3 problem areas that need addressing, not 11. Reinforcing just 2 out of those 3 positions would be a good start. Ignoring all 3 would be dangerous, and potentially put us in the same position as this season.

The only thing wrong with keeping the team as is, is that we have had 3 managers within a year managing this squad of players “as is” and the league form has been horrendous, I doubt any manager can come in and turn back time on some of these players. I want to avoid making the mistake we made last summer of not addressing problem areas in our squad, that’s all.

Do you guys see Bale staying for another season?

FalcaoPunch wrote:Do you guys see Bale staying for another season?

I have absolutely no clue. I do know that I would prefer to keep him if we don't bring in a replacement, though. As poor as he tends to be after returning from a muscle injury, I think people tend to forget the impact he's capable of when he does hit his unpredictable stride. If anything, Solari seems to have the guts to make tough decisions. He's not shackled by the expectations that were placed on Lopetegui after leading some of our players for Spain, and he doesn't seem to be as soft as Zidane seemingly was. I hope Bale will play based on his actual form and performance level. If he does, then he's certainly better to have around, than not having him around at all. Of course, it would be preferable if we could take his paycheck off the books and bring in someone who can perform consistently, or at the very least provide competition for our starters on the wings.

As much as I enjoy the prospect of Vinicius developing as a starter for us, I think the best scenario would be if we are able to bring in a more experienced replacement, and give him time to learn and develop himself in a less demanding environment. We probably offer one of the best environments in the world, in terms of being able to train together with experienced, top class talent. But I don't think the pressure of being a teenage starter for Real Madrid will do him in favors in the long term.

Thimmy wrote:

FalcaoPunch wrote:Do you guys see Bale staying for another season?

I have absolutely no clue. I do know that I would prefer to keep him if we don't bring in a replacement, though. As poor as he tends to be after returning from a muscle injury, I think people tend to forget the impact he's capable of when he does hit his unpredictable stride. If anything, Solari seems to have the guts to make tough decisions. He's not shackled by the expectations that were placed on Lopetegui after leading some of our players for Spain, and he doesn't seem to be as soft as Zidane seemingly was. I hope Bale will play based on his actual form and performance level. If he does, then he's certainly better to have around, than not having him around at all. Of course, it would be preferable if we could take his paycheck off the books and bring in someone who can perform consistently, or at the very least provide competition for our starters on the wings.

As much as I enjoy the prospect of Vinicius developing as a starter for us, I think the best scenario would be if we are able to bring in a more experienced replacement, and give him time to learn and develop himself in a less demanding environment. We probably offer one of the best environments in the world, in terms of being able to train together with experienced, top class talent. But I don't think the pressure of being a teenage starter for Real Madrid will do him in favors in the long term.

I see what you're saying but I can't really think that we'll be any worse off if Bale leaves especially if we make proper signings in the summer.

We did not spend because we did not need to spend. If Perez wants to spend 300 mil in one summer he will do it. But you don't spend that kind of money when your club is thriving and is on an historic CL run.

You listed 3 positions where we are technically well covered already.
RW: Bale, Vasquez, Vinicius, Rodrigo, James coming back
CM: Kroos, Modric, Casemiro, Llorente, Ceballos, Kovacic coming back
CF: Benzema, Diaz. This is the only position we could legit use help in but no need to spend over 50-60 mil with the current crop of talent in europe

FalcaoPunch wrote:Do you guys see Bale staying for another season?

Yeah and I hate it.

Rodrygo isn't a RW and James is dependent on Bayern, not Madrid. Also, spends more time in CM these days. Isco, Asensio and Diaz are not wingers. So that leaves Bale and Lucas. One is constantly injured and Lucas is Lucas. But sure, technically we are covered. Inadequately covered but covered nonetheless.

We need CF cover. Benzema is not enough and Mariano is clearly not good enough. The club is clearly waiting on the next big thing which is dumb but whatever. Madrid has never done the ez pz thing.

We are good at CM, very good in fact. We are also covered in the full back areas. CB, well, I wanna say yeah but who knows.

I am still seeing more pros than cons in signing Hazard for whatever price though.

Pretty certain Rodrygo played right winger for Santos last half season. All of his vs clips were actions on the right wing. Likewise for Vini he played RW for Flamengo too.

Finding right winger specialist is very hard, but we technically have the personnel to make it work without spending a lot. I could even add Odegaard.

Now if you want a real RW talent, look no further than Nicolas Pepe at Lille. He is a phenom imo.

Also I want to say on paper we are covered, and I'm playing devil's advocate here but it's important to acknowledge that. It might not be the most adequate of covers but we are and we can make it work. At CM for example I have my issues with a player like Casemiro, i still don't understand how he regressed so much but Llorente should start for him. I feel like teams have figured him out and they trap him any chance they get

Can we get Joaquin? Please? Pretty please

Mr Nick09 wrote:Pretty certain Rodrygo played right winger for Santos last half season. All of his vs clips were actions on the right wing. Likewise for Vini he played RW for Flamengo too.

Finding right winger specialist is very hard, but we technically have the personnel to make it work without spending a lot. I could even add Odegaard.

Now if you want a real RW talent, look no further than Nicolas Pepe at Lille. He is a phenom imo.

Also I want to say on paper we are covered, and I'm playing devil's advocate here but it's important to acknowledge that. It might not be the most adequate of covers but we are and we can make it work. At CM for example I have my issues with a player like Casemiro, i still don't understand how he regressed so much but Llorente should start for him. I feel like teams have figured him out and they trap him any chance they get

Vinicius and Rodrygo are both left wingers. Vinicius may have played a game or two out on the right for Flamengo, but the vast majority of time he was a left winger. Rodrygo, like you said and for reasons that I'll never understand, was moved to the right late last year and his performances fell off a cliff.

Doc wrote:Can we get Joaquin? Please? Pretty please

this must be a joke right? its about 17 years late since when we tried to talk him into a deal in the restroom.
tbh i'm not a huge fan of hazard

titosantill wrote:

Doc wrote:Can we get Joaquin? Please? Pretty please

this must be a joke right? its about 17 years late since when we tried to talk him into a deal in the restroom.
tbh i'm not a huge fan of hazard

Of course it's a joke but if you ask me if I could choose Bale or Joaquin for the remainder of the season, I'll choose 38 year old Joaquin. That part is not a joke.

Right wing specialists in Europe are rare. Right footed player somehow all play on the left and there aren't that many great Lefties.

Someone is going to take that challenge in the team among the kids we sign and make a name for themselves there.

We have signed Brahim and we have Odegaard as left footed wingers but given their profiles not sure they will provide that attacking could get balance to the left side we are looking for

Another name drop for Nicolas Pepe, he is a monster

Son would be great imo, two-footed so can play on both wings and through the middle. Good on the ball, pacey, hardworking and can score all types of goals. Hazard is the better player but i think Son would suit us more, especially if Benz keeps this up.