Real Madrid needed this international break, as much or even more than those clubs who were desperate for a break in the domestic calendar.
It hasn’t been clear sailing for Carlo Ancelotti – far from it. The team have been saved from La Liga embarrassment on multiple occasions due to the intervention of the younger talents in the squad; the Gareth Bale fiasco has blown up, underlining – perhaps, we’re not too sure yet – the extravagance and stupidity of Florentino Perez; and whatever problems there were under Jose Mourinho, they clearly haven’t been washed away, as the team are caught up in a whirlwind of two tactical ideas.
As is usually the case, money makes the problems go away. In theory. Karim Benzema isn’t firing, though his two strikes for France during this two-week break will be reason for optimism. Alvaro Morata, on the other hand, is the forward in form, he’s the player fans and neutral onlookers want to see. More than anything, he’s earned a place in the starting XI.
But that’s a problem; not on a club-wide level, but personally for Perez. Morata is a young Spaniard who has come through the ranks. There is little else that the supporters want to see. But Benzema is Perez’s signing, one of his golden acquisitions during this second spell as club president. Despite form, how can Perez go from travelling to meet Benzema prior to signing him from Lyon in 2009, to accepting him on the bench in favour of player who cost nothing and arrived on the scene with nowhere near as much fanfare?
Real Madrid’s situation at present is that the La Liga title looks gone. Based on their current form – and results don’t make up the whole story – the title will most likely go to Barcelona. Don’t even bother to suggest an Atletico win around the Real camp. If the landscape of this season doesn’t change too drastically between now and January, it is more than likely that Real will look to Luis Suarez to right the ship.
The thing is they have to get round Liverpool. Brendan Rodgers’ side are currently second in the Premier League and could very well finish in the top four with Suarez in the team for the remainder of the season. Like the case with Arsenal in the summer, the club will more than likely do everything they can to hold onto the Uruguayan.
But that won’t extend beyond the summer – at least it seems incredibly unlikely. Suarez may have apologised and put himself back in the good books, but no one really doubts he’ll eventually move.
Liverpool, however, and despite the likelihood of turning away Real Madrid in January without even listening to an offer, could be in a fantastic situation to exploit the La Liga side’s domestic situation.
In the summer, Perez was desperate to land Neymar ahead of Barcelona, so much so that his offer blew the Catalans’ out of the water by some distance. That didn’t matter, though; Neymar to Barcelona was agreed long before. Gareth Bale turned out to be the next best thing, the card which would save face for Perez in the market. Forget the fee; Perez just needed a marquee name to make up for the loss of Neymar. And of course, the Cristiano Ronaldo contract situation was always a separate issue.
This time around, Real could be in a similarly desperate situation, and vitally they have players, very good players, who they’re looking to move on. Liverpool’s rebuilding project isn’t over. They need a new striker to replace Suarez, and they need further midfield depth – notably of quality.
Sami Khedira is almost definitely on his way out of the Bernabeu, but while Liverpool will not get a striker from Real Madrid, it’s possible they’ll receive a sizeable fee for Suarez, likely more than the £40 million which was suggested during the summer.
Perez’s approach to the transfer market leaves many clubs around Europe at a great advantage. Whether it’s buying players such as Wesley Sneijder for a knockdown fee, or inflating the value of a player as Tottenham were able to do with Bale, clubs know that Perez is largely concerned about the prestige associated with incomings rather than the financial situation he puts his club into.
Liverpool may not be interested at all in selling Suarez in January, and that’s more than understandable. If they’re in a similar position come the end of the Christmas period, why risk a slip in form through the sale of their best player? But it’s something to think about. Suarez is leaving one way or another, and the funds Real Madrid may be willing to shell out would be a great deal of help in the further strengthening of the squad.
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