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Liam Foster - June 13, 2023
Real Madrid began the season as both the Spanish and European champions. However, the 2022–23 season will not be remembered favorably in Real Madrid history. The season began with all the turmoil surrounding Kylian Mbappe, whom Florentino Pérez intended to make a Galactico, refusing to join Madrid and staying at PSG.
Real then lost the La Liga championship and the Spanish Super Cup to their bitter rivals, Barcelona, who at the beginning of the season were not exactly inspirational. They also lost their Champions League title to Manchester City, led by Pep Guardiola.
The season hadn’t even finished yet when Karim Benzema, Real’s star and the club’s leading scorer over the previous five seasons, was rumored to leave the Bernabéu and join the Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad, which did ultimately happen. In addition, four years after acquiring Eden Hazard from Chelsea, Real released their most costly acquisition at no charge.
Other prominent players permitted to depart include Marco Asensio (who is close to joining PSG on a free transfer) and Mariano Diaz. While Daniel Ceballos, Ferland Mendy, and Daniel Carvajal’s futures remain uncertain.
However, the board has already started putting the team together for the forthcoming campaign. Jude Bellingham, the Bundesliga’s player of the year, joins Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Federico Valverde, Eduardo Camavinga, and Aurélien Tchouaméni in that tantalising Real Madrid midfield after the Los Blancos paid a sizable fee to Borussia Dortmund.
The club also brought back Francisco Garcia and Brahim Díaz from Rayo Vallecano and AC Milan, respectively, by paying their buy-back clauses.
Prior to Karim Benzema’s departure to Saudi Arabia, Real were already searching for a striker to act as his backup. In the best-case scenario, they would now like to have at least two forwards. Harry Kane, Kai Havertz, and Joselu, a former player of Real Madrid Castilla, have all been linked to the club.
But the name that eventually remains on top of that list is Kylian Mbappé, who as widely reported, has issued a letter to PSG alerting them of his wish not to renew his contract beyond 2024. Florentino Pérez is a great admirer of the French Baggsman, and it appears that he could call Bernabéu his home very soon.
Barcelona
Real Madrid’s major domestic opponents will be Barcelona again next season. The Blaugrana also have a lot of work to do after their unsuccessful bid to re-sign Messi, who selected Inter Miami as his next club. With high-profile departures like Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, and Gerard Piqué (Retired), retaining the championship would be difficult.
Atletico Madrid
Atletico Madrid is another squad capable of challenging the domestic favourites in Spain. With Atleti’s past season not being their best, the inevitable return to form of Antoine Griezmann (who had one of his greatest seasons) and the return of Joo Félix from Chelsea alongside Memphis Depay might achieve something remarkable.
Real Madrid possesses a far superior squad than any other team in Spain, and there is hope that the Los Blancos will strengthen their team and eventually give Carlo Ancelotti the resources he needs to make one final effort to bring the La Liga and Champions League back to the Bernabéu in what may be his final campaign as manager in the Spanish Capital.
To see if Real can contend for the titles they aim to win would be intriguing. In any case, considering that it is the basic minimum, it would be premature for Real Madrid supporters not to at least expect that they can compete for every potential trophy this season.
