After much deliberation and deduction, Carlo Ancelotti narrowed down Real Madrid’s primary area of concern this season to be the team’s defence.
The retrospective revelation brought to light the struggles the club have faced at the back from day one, for the situation in defence has not been helped by regular injuries and untimely departures.
Nacho Fernandez’s departure and David Alaba’s slow recovery progress have left the manager with just two central defenders to work with. Dani Carvajal’s injury only rubbed salt into the team’s wounds.
A homegrown option
While indeed Real Madrid have found several names in the academy who can step up and fill the defensive void, the manager has not shown any signs of trust in them.
Now, as revealed by MARCA, the club are looking towards the winter transfer window to make a stop-gap signing to improve the depth in defence.
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jonathan Tah are the dream signings, but Miguel Gutierrez presents a more practical option.
The Spanish outlet reveals that Real Madrid have an option to bring the player back to the team for just €8 million. That number will move up to €9 million and €10 million respectively in the next two seasons.
Needless to say, it is an affordable price to solve the crisis that has been plaguing the team all season.
The only case in which they will have to shell out more is if Girona receives a better offer from another club which meets the player’s expectations as well, in which case Los Blancos must meet that fee. Having 50% of his rights, however, that would make no sense.
The big question, however, is how the arrival of the left-back will improve Real Madrid’s situation when the shortage of resources lies at centre-back and right-back.
The idea, however, is that Gutierrez’s arrival will free Ferland Mendy and Fran Garcia and enable them to play at centre-back or right-back if needed.
It remains to be seen if Florentino Perez and Co. pursue his signing in January, especially given the club’s rigid stance against winter arrivals.