With the La Liga title and UEFA Champions League double in hand, Real Madrid head into the 2022 summer offseason with a number of questions to answer.
The Real Madrid squad is aging, and while some younger players have climbed the ladder and established themselves as first-team regulars, they still rely on a number of older players and a succession plan will soon be required in the case of a few of them.
Karim Benzema, coming off a possible Ballon d’Or caliber season, is 34 years old, and an eventual decline is inevitable. Midfielder Toni Kroos is 32 years old and occasionally looked unable to keep up with the rigors of a full season, but his midfield partner Luka Modric still oozes quality at 36 years old. The club will keep all three around, but Los Blancos will surely be planning ahead.
Losing out to PSG for 23-year-old Kylian Mbappe was a painful blow, and Real Madrid’s response to the swing and miss could define the summer.
The Sporting News is rounding up the key updates — all day, every day — below.
REAL MADRID CONFIRMED DEALS:
Real Madrid transfer news
Last update: June 6
Aurelien Tchouameni neares Madrid move
AS Monaco’s 22-year-old midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni, who was statistically one of the highest-rated midfielders in Ligue 1 last season, is a wanted man. His contract is up in the summer of 2024, and now could be the time for Monaco to cash in on its highly-rated youngster.
UPDATE (June 7): According to multiple reports, including Fabrizio Romano and the Liverpool Echo, a deal has been completed between Real Madrid and Aurelien Tchouameni. While Romano reports that PSG made the best offer, the player pushed for only Real Madrid. A breakthrough was reportedly made June 6 and a deal is now all but finalized. The deal is for a reported €99.5 million ($106m / £85m).
Raheem Sterling: Next attacking option for Real Madrid?
Another option for Real Madrid could be Man City winger Raheem Sterling, who has enjoyed success under Pep Guardiola. But with the prospect of reduced minutes after the arrival of Erling Haaland, he has yet to sign a contract extension and his current deal expires in summer 2023. Could Real Madrid make a run at the English international?
UPDATE (June 6): AS in Spain reports that Man City have offered Raheem Sterling to major European clubs. The Express in England reported in late May that Real Madrid are “lining up” a £50 million/$63 million offer for Sterling, testing Man City’s resolve given his contract situation.
Rafael Leao mega-deal after missing on Mbappe?
Just days after Real Madrid missed out in the chase for Kylian Mbappe, the club is now the subject of rumors of similarly audacious bids. AC Milan’s 22-year-old Portuguese winger Rafael Leao had a spectacular finish to the Serie A season, a key factor in the club’s successful run at the Italian scudetto. Real Madrid will have to test AC Milan’s resolve, as the Rossoneri will not want to lose their young star, but with two years left on his contract, now may be the time to collect top dollar.
UPDATE (May 27): A report by Italian publication Gazzetta dello Sport on May 25 stated that Real Madrid could prepare a massive bid worth $129 million (€120m / £102m) for Leao, but AC Milan sporting director Paolo Maldini considers Leao “untouchable.”
Luka Modric staying at Real Madrid
According to reports, the 36-year-old Modric will be extending his stay at Real Madrid by another year. His contract is set to run out on June 30, 2022, but it makes sense that the club would look to keep him around for just a bit longer given just how productive he was in 2021-22.
UPDATE (May 29): Marca reported that his salary will be unchanged as he gets set for an 11th season at the club.
Eden Hazard loan unlikely: He has a point to prove
The Belgian international is making it abundantly clear that he wants to be around in 2022/23 to show why Real Madrid spent $155 million to acquire him from Chelsea.
Injuries have limited his ability to contribute though he was fit to play the 2022 Champions League final against Liverpool had Carlo Ancelotti opted to play him.
UPDATE (May 25): Hazard told Belgian outlet Het Laatste Nieuws that “the coach knows that I still have a contract until 2024. My first three seasons at Real have not gone well, so I want to show everyone what I can do.”
Real Madrid summer transfer window 2022
Players In:
| Date | Player | Position | Age | Club | Transfer/Loan Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 2 | Antonio Rudiger | CB | 29 | Chelsea | Free Transfer |
Antonio Rudiger deal confirmed
On June 2, Real Madrid finally announced the signing of German defender Antonio Rudiger on a free transfer from Chelsea.The talented 29-year-old has agreed a four-year deal with the club.
🙌 #WelcomeRüdiger 🙌 pic.twitter.com/rP2yFOjse1
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) June 2, 2022
Players Out:
| Date | Player | Position | Age | Club | Transfer/Loan Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 30 | Gareth Bale | RW | 32 | Out of Contract | Free Transfer |
| June 30 | Marcelo | LB | 34 | Out of Contract | Free Transfer |
| June 30 | Isco | CAM | 30 | Out of Contract | Free Transfer |
Below is the updated Real Madrid first-team roster. New additions during the summer 2022 window are noted in bold:
Goalkeepers (2): Thibaut Courtois, Andriy Lunin
Defenders (7): Antonio Rudiger (CB) David Alaba (CB), Dani Carvajal (RB), Nacho Fernandez (CB), Miguel Gutierrez (LB), Ferland Mendy (LB), Eder Militao (CB), Lucas Vazquez (RB), Antonio Rudiger (CB).
Midfielders (6): Eduardo Camavinga (CM), Casemiro (CM), Dani Ceballos (CM), Toni Kroos (CM), Luka Modric (CM), Federico Valverde (CM).
Forwards (7): Marco Asensio (RW), Karim Benzema (CF), Mariano Diaz (CF), Eden Hazard (LW), Luka Jovic (CF), Vinicius Junior (LW), Rodrygo (RW).
CB = center back; LB = left back; RB = right back; CM = central midfielder; CAM = attacking midfielder; CF = center forward; LW = left wing; RW = right wing
The current Real Madrid projected first-choice starting lineup, when completely healthy, currently looks like:
Real Madrid projected starting XI (4-3-3, left to right): Courtois (GK) — Mendy, Rudiger, Militao, Carvajal — Kroos, Casemiro, Modric — Vinicius, Benzema, Rodrygo.
REAL MADRID ANALYSIS: