If Tottenham Hotspur unexpectedly sold Harry Kane to a European rival for £90 million, would Daniel Levy scour the globe for a new attacking midfielder? And would he eventually land on a target who, despite an impressive World Cup, amassed a grand total of 12 goals and four assists last season?
There is something troublingly flawed in Real Madrid’s attempts to replace Cristiano Ronaldo. Florentino Perez has a reputation for signing star performers at the World Cup (it was James Rodriguez in 2014), for merchandise and branding reasons as much as their genuine talent, and so it isn’t entirely surprising that he should have turned his attentions to Chelsea’s Eden Hazard once it became clear Kylian Mbappe was off limits.
But there is nothing whatsoever about the Belgian playmaker that would suggest he can fill the shoes of Juventus’s new number seven. Ronaldo and Hazard are irrefutably contrasting footballers, as different as a centre-back from a defensive midfielder in what they can offer to a team; why, then, is there not an outcry, from Real fans and the media, regarding the club’s transfer policy?
Five years ago Hazard and Ronaldo were fairly similar. The 33-year-old played predominantly on the left wing, and although shooting from all angles was already a major feature of his game Ronaldo was also a creative player.
But over the last two years Ronaldo has significantly altered his game to become an out-and-out number nine. Between 2010 and 2016 he amassed 69 assists in La Liga, an average of 11.5 per season; only once in those six years did he drop below double figures, recording nine in 2013/14. However in 2016/17 he made six goals and in 2017/18 he made five, a dramatic statistical drop reflecting his transition from the left into the centre.
Attempting to sign Hazard suggests Perez hadn’t noticed the extent of Ronaldo’s transformation.
What Real need to replace is Ronaldo’s goals – 41 in 40 games last campaign – not an assumed creativity that is in fact non-existent. Hazard is exactly the wrong target, then, not least because his own outlay at Chelsea is deceptively low. Gareth Bale, Isco, and Marco Asensio are all arguably better players occupying Hazard’s position. Last season, all three players finished with a goals and assists per minute ratio either equal to or better than Hazard’s.
Not that Hazard is Perez’s only target, according to reports. Edinson Cavani has been touted as a potential signing recently, which is a considerably more sensible option to replace Ronaldo; he scored 28 goals in 32 league games last season, and like Hazard starred at the World Cup in Russia. There is little indication currently that Paris Saint-Germain would be willing to sell such an important player (neither Neymar nor Mbappe offer the same ruthless number nine instincts), making another late bid for Hazard more likely.
To target both of these players, in the hope of landing one, reflects the muddy thinking in the Real boardroom right now. Clearly signing another Galactico, whatever the role, is more important to Perez than creating a balanced squad or replacing Ronaldo like-for-like. That, alone, should worry supporters, not least because Julen Lopetegui plans a dramatic tactical change this year.
The former Spain manager plays a more patient, possession style of football than his predecessor Zinedine Zidane, who took a more individualist approach to management. Consequently Lopetegui might cope with the loss of a ball-hogging star like Ronaldo better than the Frenchman would have, although according to Marca the 51-year-old is keen to bring in a “top class” striker.
That’s hardly surprising. Any team in the world, no matter who’s in charge, would miss a goalscorer of Ronaldo’s calibre – which is why Perez’s lack of urgency, and apparent pursuit of the wrong sort of player, is so baffling. The capture of Thomas Lemar ensures Atletico Madrid will be much stronger this season. If Real fail to sign a Cavani type they may well finish below their cross-city rivals for the second consecutive year.
