The situation
Although Real Madrid has just achieved a historic double last season, the truth is that the Whites have not paid any money in the top zone in the last three years. There are several reasons why these signings have not taken place, but the main one is Karim Benzema’s extraordinary performance. The Frenchman, the top candidate to win the Ballon d’Or, has caused with his performances that additions up front are not so necessary. Obviously Vinicius’ vast improvement and Rodrygo’s scoring performance in key games this year has been remarkable, but the 34-year-old striker has been above them in importance. The truth is that many names have been mentioned in recent years, something that always happens in the Madrid orbit. The name of Mbappe has been the best known, an old dream that has not come for reasons that we all know. Perhaps this player has been the one least influenced by Benzema’s high level due to his great present and future , but it is true that it relieves the merengue fan to think that, although Mbappé is not coming, Benzema is. With Haaland, Karim’s presence has had more influence. Playing in the same position, there have always been doubts as to whether two center-forwards with such similar abilities could get along on the pitch. There were contacts for Haaland, but Benzema’s level (44 goals in the last season) is such that Madrid did not accept the economic claims of Haaland and his entourage.
The details
With a striker at this level, it doesn’t make much sense to make a significant financial outlay for the same position. Benzema’s level has been especially high in the last four years, precisely since Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure to Juventus (since then, Karim is, with 92 goals, the sixth top scorer in the five major European leagues). However, the Frenchman has been an essential player in the starting eleven practically since he arrived. In 2014, Robert Lewandowski, at that time at Borussia Dortmund, was very close to signing for Madrid, but Benzema’s figure appeared there. The economic conditions that Madrid offered him were better than those of Bayern Munich (the other team that was in the bidding), but knowing that he would be Benzema’s substitute, he thought better of the offer and signed for the German club.Indirectly, the former Lyon player was key in the non-arrival of the Pole. One more time.