REAL MADRID are never shy when it comes to spending big.
It seems every summer the LaLiga giants make a marquee signing, adding someone who’s normally thought of as one of the world’s best to a squad packed full of internationals.
But, with the pressure of succeeding at one of the most successful clubs in the game and justifying a hefty price tag, sometimes failure follows.
These blockbuster additions have (as of now in one case) failed to set the Bernabeu alight.
They are the biggest transfer flops in Real Madrid’s illustrious history…
EDEN HAZARD
IT might seem unfair to say it – but it’s now almost two summers since Eden Hazard move to Los Blancos from Chelsea in a deal reportedly worth around £130million.
Any settling-in period the world class Belgium playmaker may have needed, has surely since passed?
Hazard’s biggest problem has been his fitness – with complaints about his weight.
He’s also had plenty of niggling injuries, as well as battled Covid-19.
But still, the 30-year-old should’ve managed more than four goals in 36 appearances in his time at the club so far.
Will things get better? It’s hard to imagine they can get any worse.
LUKA JOVIC
AFTER starring for Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga and in the Europa League, many were convinced Jovic was the next football superstar.
The Serbian striker had power and pace, as well as an eye for goal that saw Real pay £54m for his services.
Something went wrong somewhere though for the 23-year-old.
With Karim Benzema enjoying a renaissance, as well as favouritism from manager Zinedine Zidane, Jovic found his opportunities in the first team limited.
And when he did play, that ruthless nature he did have in front of goal seemed to have left him, as well as his confidence.
After two goals in 32 games, he was loaned back to Frankfurt in January. He’s not quite hit the heights he did previously in Germany.
KAKA
IF ever there was a footballer that belonged on the stage at the Bernabeu, it was Kaka – as graceful a player the world has ever seen.
For some reason, though, that elegance left him as soon as the former Ballon d’Or winner joined Real from AC Milan for a record-breaking £56m in 2009.
In truth, the brilliant Brazilian was hindered by injuries. In 2010, he had surgery on a serious knee injury.
With his mobility affected, the dynamic playmaker didn’t have as much of an influence as he did when he played in Serie A.
Kaka left after four seasons, scoring 29 goals and providing 32 assists in 120 games across all competitions.
DANILO
IN 2015, Real Madrid added Brazilian full-back Danilo to their ranks.
The fee they paid Porto for the right-back was a staggering £31million, and they believed he would be the ‘next Dani Alves’.
He rarely played in his first campaign, and bizarrely EVERY game he did ended in a defeat.
In his second he scored two comical own goals, including one that saw Real eliminated from the Copa del Rey against Celta Vigo.
Amazingly, despite his poor showings the club managed to get £26.5million back when they sold him to Manchester City… he flopped there too.
ANTONIO CASSANO
THE Spanish press were never kind to Italian star Cassano.
They christened him ‘Gordito’, which translates as ‘little fat one’. And although it’s meant affectionately, the former Roma legend wasn’t well liked in Madrid.
He was picked on for putting on weight, and there was an extraordinary claim he gained 14 kilos in seven months eating Nutella direct from the jar.
And when boss Fabio Capello arrived at the club, the £22m signing fell out with his fellow countryman and was duly suspended.
In two seasons, he played just 29 times and scored four goals.
JONATHAN WOODGATE
THE English defender regularly features in polls for worst ever Real Madrid signing.
And it just got off to the worst possible start for the former Leeds United player.
Signed for £13m from Newcastle in 2004, Woodgate was on the sidelines for his entire first season.
He finally made his debut a year later against Athletic Bilbao, and it couldn’t have been worse.
Aside from a comical own goal, Woodgate was then sent off for two bookable offences.
In 2006, Woodgate returned to England on loan at Middlesbrough. That deal was made permanent a year later.
WESLEY SNEIJDER
ANOTHER huge talent, Sneijder would have a big hand in helping his country reach a World Cup final in 2010 later in his career.
But, before that, there were his lost years in Madrid from 2004-2006.
A £27m signing from Ajax, Sneijder was one of three Dutchman who joined the club that summer, along with Royston Drenthe and Arjen Robben.
However, he didn’t pose as much swagger as he did in his early years at Ajax.
After a disappointing second season, Sneijder was sold to Inter Milan, where he would win the Champions League.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
