Real’s fluttering BBC

Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo have frequently been blamed by the Spanish media for Real Madrid’s unconvincing attacking displays this season and the club might look to shake-up the attack to rejuvenate the squad.

While Karim Benzema is definitely on the decline, he has a lot to offer and Real Madrid will be vary of selling its striker.

Three points clear from Barcelona at the helm on La Liga and well positioned for a semi-final slot in the Champions League after an impressive away-performance at Bayern Munich. You would be forgiven for thinking all is well at Real Madrid.

Yet, with summer inching closer, a squad overhaul is the most talked about subject in the stands of Santiago Bernabeu, especially with fans expressing their discontent with the expensively forged front-trio of three-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo, once-upon-a-time highest transfer fee holder Gareth Bale and French forward Karim Benzema.

The BBC, as they are popularly called, have frequently been blamed by the Spanish media for Real’s unconvincing attacking displays this season and Madrid might look to shake-up the attack to rejuvenate the squad.

Bale, albeit while missing three months of action through injury, has endured his worst season since joining Real with nine goals in all competitions, while Ronaldo, with 19 in the league, is on course for his worst domestic tally since 2010.

Benzema, meanwhile, has also been far less prolific in domestic matches this year but is the team’s top-scorer in the Champions League with five goals to four from Ronaldo and two from Bale.

With the likes of Spanish youngsters Alvaro Morata and Marco Asensio warming the bench in the hope of a more regular role, we assess what Real’s board should do to the fluttering BBC this summer.

Karim Benzema

There are few natural centre-forwards in the same league as Karim Benzema. While the French striker has struggled this season with injuries, he still remains a vital part of the attack with his ability to link-up well with Ronaldo on the left. While Benzema is definitely on the decline, he has a lot to offer and Madrid will be vary of selling its striker, especially considering what Gonzalo Higuain has gone on to achieve after being shipped off.

The problem with Madrid is the presence of Spanish striker Morata on the bench. Alvaro, a Madrid academy product, was bought back from Juventus last summer after his stellar performances for the Old Lady of Turin. But his comeback hasn’t exactly been rosy, with the Spanish first-choice striker playing second fiddle to Benzema at the club. The media has been ruthless with its crucification of Benzema, often accusing coach Zinedine Zidane of showing French bias, and the Real board will be under pressure to find a solution to this problem. But it could be solved if Antonio Conte and Chelsea come in for the Spanish striker. Conte was the manager who signed Morata for Juve and the striker recently expressed his desire to team up with the Italian coach again. While the move would not be popular in Spain, Zidane might be able to use the money and the free slot to lure teenage striking sensation Kylian Mbappe from AS Monaco FC.

Verdict: Keep. At least for a year to smoothen the transition for Mbappe. There are few strikers with the same quality as Benzema in the market and it will also be difficult for Real to fetch a decent transfer fee for the axed Frenchman.

Gareth Bale

When in form, there are very few players who can match the panache Bale brings to the football field. The problem, though, is that the Welsh forward has had an injury-marred career at Madrid so far. Bale has struggled to hit the purple patch and the fans are growing more frustrated with his lack of contribution in the attacking line.

Gareth Bale has struggled to hit the purple patch and the fans are growing more frustrated with his contribution in the attacking.

 

In Isco and Asensio, Madrid already has potential replacements if Bale is shipped off, and the time might be right for Madrid to let go of Bale. Though interest from Premier League sides such as Manchester United and Chelsea has faded since last summer, Bale will still be a welcome figure in England if he decides to make the move.

Real Madrid could also use the Morata deal as bait for Chelsea to let go of its talisman forward Eden Hazard, who is apparently the prime target for Zidane this summer. The Belgian forward has expressed his admiration for Zidane and might fancy a Los Blancos shirt though he has publicly denied any such interests. Hazard, far less injury prone than Bale, will bring consistency to the Madrid side and also has the potential to be the marquee signing the fans want to see.

Verdict: Sell. Premier League experience means Bale will fetch decent money, if not the full 77 million pounds Madrid paid to Tottenham in 2013. Asensio already looks world class and Madrid has Isco to fill the void if need be. Add Hazard to the line-up and it would a major enhancement to the 2016-17 squad.

Cristiano Ronaldo

Ronaldo is 32 but why would you still want to sell a forward who has scored 100 European goals? The Portuguese was Madrid’s most decisive player against Bayern and proved his doubters wrong once again when he scored his 99th and 100th goals in European competition in Real’s 2-1 win against Bayern.

There is no doubt Ronaldo is declining. His physical gifts, such as tremendous acceleration and powerful standing long jump, are not what they once were. He has scored — by his extra-ordinary standards — just 19 league goals this season. Also not to forget, these were Ronaldo’s first goals in the Champions League in 197 days, the first time he found the net in Europe since scoring against Borussia Dortmund in the group stages back in September.

But a diminished Ronaldo is still better than almost everyone else and there are very few footballers in the world who can potentially replace him. Unfortunately for Real, three such candidates play for its fiercest rivals Atletico Madrid (Antoine Griezmann) and Barcelona (Neymar and Lionel Messi).

A diminished Cristiano Ronaldo is still better than almost everyone else and there are very few footballers in the world who can potentially replace him.

 

Not to forget Ronaldo’s off the field impact. According to Forbes, he is the footballer with the biggest brand value and Real Madrid merchandise sales will take a big blow if he leaves the team.

Verdict: Keep. Hazard brings guile and industry to a side but he isn’t anywhere as ruthless as Ronaldo in front of the goal. With no potential replacements available, it would be unwise for Real to let go of its Portuguese forward, even for a record-defying transfer amount.