Real Madrid News
Real Madrid identify left-footed centre-back as top priority before transfer deadline
Real Madrid have made six signings in what has been a blockbuster summer transfer window, equally backed up by smart sales as well.
The club are not finished in the transfer market, with the club now prioritising the signing of a left-footed centre-back before the window closes.
According to Hector Gonzales on El Larguero, reinforcing the left side of central defence has emerged as one of the final objectives for Jose Mourinho and the sporting department as they continue shaping the squad for the new season.
Left-footed defender now a priority
Madrid are actively looking for a natural left-footer who can provide balance in the back line.
That profile would give Mourinho a different option in possession, particularly when building from the back.
A defender comfortable opening his body onto his stronger left foot can improve passing angles and progression.
It would also allow Madrid to avoid forcing right-footed centre-backs into unfamiliar roles on the left side.
The club could use some variety
Madrid’s current first-team squad has Dean Huijsen, Antonio Rudiger, Eder Militao, Raul Asencio and Ibrahima Konate as central defensive options.
Asencio’s future at the club is far from certain, and the Spaniard could be a candidate on the exit ramp this summer.
Meanwhile, while Huijsen is two-footed and can play on the left side of defence, he has struggled to get going so far in his Madrid career.
Rudiger is also adept at playing on the left side of central defence but the German is getting on in age and no longer the reliable option that he once was.
That leaves Militao and Konate, both of whom are predominantly right-footed and quite limited when played on the left side.
A host of options to choose from
The transfer market is definitely not short of naturally left-footed central defenders, should the club choose to go down that route.
There are the usual suspects like Alessandro Bastoni and Nico Schlotterbeck, both of whom have been linked with moves to the club.
Even if Madrid decide to look elsewhere, there are talented defenders all around the world who would be a great fit for the team.
It remains to be seen if Madrid make signing a left-footed CB their priority in the remaining weeks of the summer transfer window.
Kylian Mbappe’s blistering start to the season has already hit its first bump, with the Real Madrid forward’s missed penalty against Real Betis exposing an area of his game that has historically been less reliable.
Mbappe had given Madrid fans plenty of reasons for optimism in the opening weeks.
He scored a hat-trick against Real Sociedad before finding the net again against Malaga, making it four goals across his first three matches of the season.
The performance against Betis, though, was a different story.
Mbappe struggled to make the same impact and then missed an injury-time penalty, with Alvaro Valles making the save as Madrid eventually suffered a 0-1 defeat.
Mbappe’s penalty numbers make uncomfortable reading
Mbappe’s latest miss adds to a record that is far from elite when compared with some of Real Madrid’s previous specialists.
Including the Betis penalty, Mbappe has now missed 16 of the 81 penalties he has taken during his career, excluding shoot-outs. That represents a failure rate of 19.7%.
His numbers with Real Madrid are even less convincing, having converted 19 of 24 penalties for the club, meaning his miss rate stands at 20.8%, effectively one missed penalty in every five attempts.
Mbappe’s record compared with Madrid legends
The comparison with Real Madrid’s previous penalty takers provides better context.
Cristiano Ronaldo missed only 13 of his 92 penalties, giving him a miss rate of 14.1%. Sergio Ramos was considerably more dependable, missing just one of his 23 attempts, which is a rate of 4.3%.
All three sets of figures exclude penalty shoot-outs, making the comparison more relevant to normal match situations.
Mbappe therefore has work to do if he is to reach the level of reliability expected from a team’s primary penalty taker.
Sure, his overall goalscoring numbers remain outstanding, but penalties are an important part of that production.
Mourinho should keep faith with Mbappe
Meanwhile, there is little reason for Jose Mourinho or the Real Madrid dressing room to lose confidence in Mbappe because of one miss on matchday four.
His opening performances, particularly the hat-trick against Real Sociedad, provide ample evidence of his quality, and the greater concern may be psychological rather than tactical.
Mbappe’s confidence from the spot will be worth watching, especially because of what he is chasing this season.
The Ballon d’Or, Pichichi and Golden Boot are all among his ambitions, and penalties offer a valuable route towards the goals required for those prizes.
