Soccer clubs, the perfect home ground for brand sponsorship?

Nani of Manchester United in action at the launch of the new adidas Predator Lethal Zones football boot. The boot, designed with five deadly zones for the ultimate ball control and to maximise power and accuracy, was unveiled on May 1, 2012 in Manchester, England. Visit www.adidas.com/football

(April 30, 2012 - Source: Getty Images/Getty Images Europe)

Which soccer fan wouldn't want to wear a Jordan brand to the field to support PSG in the UEFA Champions’ League? Which fashion enthusiast wouldn't want to spend one freaky Friday in Neymar's sneaker collection?

It is no secret that investing in soccer clubs has become the hottest global trend. Multiple organizations, betting companies included, that never used to sponsor soccer are flooding into the field. With the famous basketball based brand, Jordan’s transition from the court to the field, it has become apparent that soccer clubs are the new home ground for brand sponsorship. Every club's success is being pinned on the type of brand they wear, with individual players claiming a greater part of the influence.

History of brand sponsorship in soccer clubs

Various brand sponsorships have either made or broken teams over the years. The most notable sponsorships have undoubtedly been for Manchester United, FC Barcelona, and Real Madrid's pockets. Forbes list of the richest soccer clubs ranked Real Madrid at number 1, Barcelona at number 2 and the Red Devils took the third place in 2019.

It has been said that "When the right club jersey meets the right sponsor, it can result in aesthetic perfection in a football shirt." The perfect football shirt is key to a large fan base and motivation on the field. Now we will explore the relationship between brand sponsorships and some of the biggest clubs in world football.

Paul Pogba of Manchester United celebrates scoring to make it 2-1 with team mate Marcus Rashford during the Premier League match between Manchester United and West Ham United at Old Trafford on April 13, 2019 in Manchester, United Kingdom.

(April 12, 2019 - Source: Michael Regan/Getty Images Europe)

Manchester United

English football fans have the word SHARP embedded in their memory. The partnership between the appliances company and Manchester United ended in 2000 after 18 happy years together, but the jersey left a huge mark!

At the moment, Manchester United rests at the top of the Premier League when it comes to shirt sponsorship agreements. In a massive deal with General Motors, United are paid a remarkable £47m per season to wear the Chevrolet logo on their kit. The deal is the largest of its kind and runs until the 2021 season.

The Red Devils' revenue also speaks volumes about the weight of their sponsorship. They have managed to stay in the top three Forbes list of richest clubs since 2007. The Red Devils who were holding the lead for the past two years enveloped the top three this year. In 2017-2018, the club lost 8% of their value compared to the previous season. Now Manchester United is valued at $3.81 billion and surpasses its competitors by the amount of operating income in value of $238 million.

FC Barcelona– $779.4 Million

Revenue in 2019: €690.4 Million (£611.6 Million or $779.4 Million)

Previous Revenue: €648.3 Million

Total Valuation: €3.6 Billion

With revenue of €690.4 Million this year, Lionel Messi’s club Barcelona earned the second spot on the Richest Football Clubs 2018/19 list. Sponsorship deals with kit supplier Nike and the shirt sponsor Qatar Airways guaranteed them that position, although they lost to rivals - Real Madrid. In the 2019/20 season, €223 Million was raised through their broadcast rights. An increase in ticket sales also led to the matchday income reaching €144.8 Million. While the £200-million sale of Neymar did not have any impact on the club’s 2019 revenue, it increased a significant amount of the club’s total valuation to €2.98 Billion.

Gareth Bale and Luka Modric of Real Madrid chat during a promotional event by the German carmaker Audi at Carlos Sainz Center on November 4, 2016 in Madrid, Spain. Audi, who are the official Sponsors of Real Madrid, has given each player a new Audi car to promote their brand as part of the sponsorship deal.

(Nov. 3, 2016 - Source: Denis Doyle/Getty Images Europe)

Real Madrid – $847.7 Million

Revenue in 2019: €750.9 Million (£665.2 Million or $847.7 Million)

Previous Revenue: €674.6 Million

Total Valuation: €3.8 Billion

After spending almost six seasons at position 2, Real Madrid leveled up. With total revenue of €750.9 Million this year, Real Madrid currently holds the top spot in the list of Richest Football Clubs in the world.

They earned a total of €315.5 Million through the commercial deals with their jersey sponsor Emirates and kit supplier Adidas. Broadcast rights generated €251.3 Million and ticket sales generated €143.4 Million. The departure of super-costly footballers such as Cristiano Ronaldo seemed to not have diminished the club's glory!

Another notable club sponsorship is that of Arsenal and Adidas. In 2018, Arsenal's 5-year contract with Puma came to a close with Adidas coming in to take over their kit supply. This is an annual £60m deal that guarantees Arsenal the third place in the most lucrative kit deals in football, behind Barcelona’s contract with Nike and Manchester United’s contract with Adidas which are worth £140m-a-year and £75m-a-year respectively.

Arsenal last wore an Adidas strip between 1986 and 1994 during which they lifted two league titles. Nike then sponsored the club for two decades until 2014-15, before losing out to Puma. Arsenal are now in their first year with Adidas as their new kit manufacturer. The relationship has gotten off to a good start with fans already going crazy over the new shirts on social media.

Role of social media in brand sponsorship frequency

"The rise of social media in the professional sports domain can be described as revolutionary" (Larkin, fink and Tail, 2015)

Social media has been used as a flexible way to access fans and customers for soccer clubs and brands respectively. Various social media platforms have offered immediate access to information for soccer fans. Tracking and interacting with your favorite soccer club has become much easier. For companies sponsoring soccer clubs, assessing the fan base and therefore the potential market for their products also became easier. Thus business organizations have had no choice than to be responsive to the huge impact social media has on their brand awareness.

Performance tolerance of fans can be easily accessed through social media, it refers to the level of engagement fans seek with their favorite team in highs and lows. This concept has become a huge influencer of sponsors' decision to invest in a club. In essence, social media allows sponsors to track a club's success on the field, in terms of revenue and influence on their fan base. This allows sponsors to pin their brands on a club they know will raise their brand awareness and offer a guaranteed lucrative partnership. Soccer clubs with a large and resilient fan base like Manchester United, FC Barcelona, and Real Madrid have found themselves in the pool of big sponsorship deals!

Neymar of PSG in action during the Group C match of the UEFA Champions League between Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield on September 18, 2018 in Liverpool, United Kingdom.

(Sept. 17, 2018 - Source: Julian Finney/Getty Images Europe)

Is brand sponsorship dependent on success on the field??

"Success means winning trophies. That target and standard has never changed for Manchester United. The progress we have made on the business side underpins the continued investment in the football side" -Ed Woodward, Manchester United Executive

As much as the Red Devils believe in success lying in winning the game not sponsorships, a different view cannot be evaded. We definitely cannot run away from the notion that success on the field and brand sponsorship are two dependent variables.

With Manchester United's recent poor results came a huge depression in their monetary value. The team's failure to qualify for this year's Champions League (Europe's most prestigious club competition) was a major blow. Manchester United then projected its revenues at £560 million to £580million this season. This is their first income reduction in over a decade.

Manchester United also find themselves in the 12th position in the premier league having not won in 11 games and scoring just 7 goals in their last 10 outings. Manchester United have begun to search for a new shirt sponsor due to rising speculations that Chevrolet, the US car brand that is paying $559 million in a seven-year deal for its logo to be emblazoned on the team’s shirts, is highly unlikely to renew the contract when it elapses in 2022.

Can it get worse for Manchester United? Well, it never rains folks, it pours!

United’s knitwear deal with Adidas, worth £750 million over 10 years, contains a penalty clause which states that failure to reach Europe’s top competition for two consecutive seasons will see Manchester United being paid £21 million less for each year outside the tournament.

Fellow fans might just want to look at this as a simple dry spell for Manchester United and not an indicator of their dependency on sponsorship on success in the field. However, Liverpool's story throws our consolation into the dip.

Liverpool’s revenues are set to rise further from the £455 million earned in 2018 after the team won the Champions League last season. Various companies are even taking extraordinary measures for the right to be associated with Liverpool. In September, US sportswear group New Balance began legal action against the European champions in a last-ditch attempt to prevent the club from signing a new shirt manufacturing deal with Nike worth £70 million a year.

"I have seen for many years, in particular, sponsors who are a big part of United’s business; they go after the hot teams. All my clients want to talk about Liverpool because they are top of the league and won the Champions League.” -Tim Crow, an independent sports marketing advisor

So I guess, on-field success does drive off-field success after all. However, Manchester United will likely remain the wealthiest club in England for the foreseeable future. The Red Devils have managed to stay in Forbes' top 3 richest clubs for more than 5 consecutive years already.

“Performance tolerance of fans can be easily accessed through social media, it refers to the level of engagement fans seek with their favorite team in highs and lows. This concept has become a huge influencer of sponsors’ decision to invest in a club. In essence, social media allows sponsors to track a club’s success on the field, in terms of revenue and influence on their fan base. ”

— Lovejoy Tabeth Munamati, FirstTouch Africa

Are individual players the major source of big sponsors??

Okay, so this is the most crucial question: "who draws big sponsors in, the best team player, the fan base or the club as a whole??

 Teamwork is indeed the dream work and for clubs like Manchester United and PSG to be part of "the list" they had to have the best team not just the best team players. A fan base with a high-performance tolerance is closely related to a high brand following. This highly influences a sponsor's decision to invest in a club. However, we cannot deny that "one man can change the world". Manchester United is a great team but Ferguson brought in more sponsors than the team's teamwork can manage now.

"United has come at a time of decline on the pitch, with the club struggling to get to grips with the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era." -Tyrone Marshall

One football finance expert mentioned that United could have been looking at the first £100m-a-season shirt sponsorship deal if they were still enjoying the success of the Ferguson years.

Looking at PSG's new partnership with Jordan, it seems apparent that Neymar was the drive. In 2016; Neymar collaborated with Jordan for a football boot, sneaker, and apparel. His collaboration with Jordan earned him great recognition in street fashion for his sneaker collection. He also earned a huge consumer chain for Jordan from his huge fan base. So when Neymar moved from FC Barcelona to PSG in 2017 the PSG-Jordan collaboration became inevitable.

Mesut Ozil of Arsenal celebrates after he scores his sides first goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Leicester City at Emirates Stadium on October 22, 2018 in London, United Kingdom.

(Oct. 21, 2018 - Source: Clive Rose/Getty Images Europe)

Future prospects

It looks like soccer clubs are going to stay in the major lucrative sector for sponsors for a long time. More sponsors that were never part of the field gamble are taking their chances with soccer as well.  The most notable brand is Jordan, which recently started sponsoring PSG. Although Jordan is new to the whole soccer sponsorship field, its entrance has been certified by the most decorated player in the history of the sport, Dani Alves. With the Jordan collection cementing PSG's reputation as street wear’s hottest football club, it is no doubt that they will produce the best on-field gear as well!

The Premier League clubs stand to earn a record £349.1m from shirt sponsorship deals in the coming season, a rise of more than 10% compared to £315.6m in 2018-19 from gambling company sponsorship. As a result, half of the Premier League’s shirts will be emblazoned with a gambling company’s logo during the 2019-20 season.

"Betting’s dominance is even more pronounced in the Championship, where 17 out of 24 club shirts will show a betting logo, meaning 27 of England’s top 44 clubs have agreed to do so." -Rob Davies

"Soccer clubs around the world are welcoming to the myriad of sponsorships.  In the digital world, soccer organizations are looking to sign deals with globally recognized brands, despite the product or purpose of the sponsor. Interested companies looking to sponsor soccer teams are paying large sums of money in hopes that fans will associate their favorite team with a sponsor’s business and thus raise profits". -Scott Phillips

UEFA Champions League Preview (Matchday 2): Group A

Karim Benzema attends "El Corazon de Sergio Ramos" premiere at the Reina Sofia museum on September 10, 2019 in Madrid, Spain.

(Sept. 9, 2019 - Source: Getty Images Europe)

Group A

Real Madrid v Club Brugge – Tuesday, 01 October 2019

Zidane’s charges are expected to brush Brugge aside at the Bernabeu. Nothing less than a comprehensive victory will appease the Madrid faithful who were humbled to a 3-0 loss at Paris on matchday 1. Even though marquee summer signing, Eden Hazard, is yet to come alive in white, Benzema and the decent start to their La Liga campaign which has seen them occupy pole position after 7 matches offers enough hope that the real, Real could actually be back. A 0-0 draw over the weekend at Atletico was another piece of evidence that Zidane might have calmed the waters in the Spanish Capital.

That’s the expectation. But it’s actually easier said than done against the Belgian side who labored to a 0-0 opening draw against a Falcao inspired Galatasaray. Even more, their African contingent of Percy Tau, Diatta and Diagne showed what they can do if given the chance with a glorious display in 5-0 win over Mechelen during the weekend. No Champions League match is easy going and this one won’t be any different.

Galatasaray v Paris St Germain - Tuesday, 01 October 2019

The tide is on the French champions’ side to continue blowing opposition away and not least the Turkish champions. Quite frankly, it’s what they have repeatedly done in the UCL group stages for the past 2-3 seasons. This time, a 3-0 opening night win over Madrid could have been the best of them. Injuries have trouble Tuchel’s side in recent weeks with Mbappe, Cavani, Choupo-Moting amongst others having been forced to watch from the sidelines. Neymar who has scored all three goals in PSG’s last three, 1-0 league wins has won back the fans, settled the camp and convincingly re-integrated himself into the side after the summer transfer woes. The Brazilian will not play on Tuesday due to the ongoing ban for his comments last term but best guaranteed, PSG have enough firepower to own the night in Istanbul, provided they put their game faces on. One player you really should look out for is the summer signing from Everton, Idrissa Gana Gueye and of course Mbappe who just returned. The Senegalese international has already won hearts in Paris with his heart-on-sleeve performances in the middle of the park.

As for Galatasaray, the Turkish champions have enough champions league experience to know how to set-up against opposition such as PSG. At home, still riding on the wings of the summer arrival of Falcao and boosted by the disciplined performance that saw them earn a point at Brugge, they really must be fancying themselves to cause an upset.

We shall see how that will work out.

UEFA Champions League Preview (Matchday 1): Group A

Lassana Diarra of PSG (19) and team mates look dejected in defeat after the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 Second Leg match between Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid at Parc des Princes on March 6, 2018 in Paris, France.

(March 5, 2018 - Source: Matthias Hangst/Getty Images Europe)

Club Brugge vs Galatasaray- Wednesday 19 September 2019

After missing out on last season’s Belgian Pro League title, Brugge and their new coach Philippe Clement decided to reinvent themselves with a greater part of process seeming to be a combination of some of Africa’s football stars. The likes of South Africa’s Percy Tau, Nigeria’s Okereke and Senegal’s Mbaye Diagne and Diatta will line-up against a Radamel Falcao inspired Galatasaray side who haven’t had the best of starts in their Turkish Super Lig title defence.

PSG vs Real Madrid- Wednesday 19 September 2019

The pick of the group and undoubtedly the round features PSG and Real Madrid at Parc de Princes. Two giants not without a history and desperate to show the disappointments of the last season are behind them. They both got knocked out in the quarter-finals by Manchester United and Ajax respectively and have no smaller goal than winning the cup itself. Furthermore, there is a tantalizing prospect of getting revenge for PSG who were beaten 5-2 on aggregate by eventual champions Madrid in the 2017/18 UCL round of 16. It’s really an opening match with UCL final written all over it. We will be watching the Neymar vs Hazard battle, world-class forwards currently re-integrating into their sides with undoubtably talismanic abilities.

How can La Liga grow their audience as a league?

Players and officials line up prior to the La Liga match between Barcelona and Real Madrid at Camp Nou on May 6, 2018 in Barcelona, Spain.

(May 5, 2018 - Source: Alex Caparros/Getty Images Europe)

This is La Liga Santander

La Liga is one of the most recognizable leagues in football and over the decades, it has maintained a strong presence on the global stage. Home to the world’s biggest clubs, Spain’s top-flight division attracts the most sought after players with ambitions of title hopes and the recent record signing of Eden Hazard from Chelsea is a perfect example. La Liga clubs have consistently shown their dominance in Europe with the most sought after trophies and titles finding a permanent home in Spain. Spanish clubs have raked up the highest number of European titles; 18 UEFA Champions and 11 Europa League titles, while also having the highest number of Balon d’Or winners, 22 in total. This Europe’s acclaimed league also attracts huge numbers in viewership as fans tune in to watch football played at one of the highest levels. Even in the midst of all the successes of teams such as Barcelona and Real Madrid, the league has trailed behind the Premier League in viewership rankings. Hence the governing body’s seeming mission to grow it’s the audience and attract millions of more spectators to follow Spanish football globally.   

“La Liga has ventured into this area, piloting a free Facebook service for Asia in 2018 that has made La Liga easily accessible for millions of Facebook users. ”

— Margaret Mandeya, FirstTouch Africa

Borrowing lessons from the EPL

Barcelona and Real Madrid instantly come to mind as the most successful teams in La Liga and Europe. The clubs have a dominating presence in the league and retain the bulk of football supporters domestically and internationally. The reputation and status of Barcelona and Madrid pull some of the world’s best players to the La Liga and most players dream of playing at Camp Nou and the Santiago Bernabeu during the course of their careers. These two teams, along with Manchester United dominate global replica shirt sales every year. The competition between the two clubs has also contributed to the league’s appeal; El Clasico is the most popular game in any given La Liga season and in club football worldwide. While this dominance has gained La Liga a decent following, the monopoly held by Barcelona and Real Madrid has also posed some disadvantages in the growth of the league. The highly competitive nature of EPL attracts a broader audience whereas in Spain, Barcelona or Real Madrid usually interchange the number one spot. This intense competition is just one of the things that the English League has gotten right.

 a) Language barrier/opportunity

Two Barcelona fans enjoy the pre match atmosphere prior to the La Liga match between Barcelona and Real Madrid at Camp Nou on May 6, 2018 in Barcelona, .

(May 5, 2018 - Source: David Ramos/Getty Images Europe)

There are other aspects of the EPL that La Liga could replicate to get the essential viewership numbers up. For example, the Premier League’s presence in the English speaking world remains a key reason behind why it enjoys the title of the most-watched league around the globe. As a widely-used language of communication in many parts of the world, English offers a massive advantage for the EPL. Commentary and analysis are predominately in English which has allowed for the easier penetration of the English Premier League into the football cultures of various regions.  Spanish however, has a much smaller speaking population than English outside Spain and South America. As a result, La Liga has traditionally focused on attracting the European and South American market.

 Building a similar culture and connection with the audiences globally is one of the core challenges for the Spanish League. They have attempted to remedy this with some success. Recent efforts from the league have targeted less penetrated regions where they have spearheaded the idea of delivering La Liga content that fits into the context of each area. As a result, La Liga has invested in gathering data on how the audience reacts and using that to design content and marketing that fits into the cultural context.

 b) Bringing La Liga to their doorsteps

Furthermore, La Liga has also begun to hit the ground with tours outside Europe. Pre-season tours where Premier League clubs hold matches and tournaments outside England have become a part of the league’s traditions — considering the lack of visibility outside Spain for La Liga, this tactic is crucial for clubs that are less at the forefront; clubs like Valencia and Espanyol have not gained a significant following outside of Spain. Playing more league games outside of Spain and allowing players to meet fans in their home regions would increase La Liga’s visibility and ultimately its global audience.

Real Madrid supporters celebrate as their side scores the opening goal during the La Liga match between Real Madrid and Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on May 2, 2008 in Madrid, Spain. Barcelona won the match 6-2.

(May 2, 2009 - Source: Jasper Juinen/Getty Images Europe)

 Pioneering new ways of streaming live matches

Gaining more visibility outside Spain is a step in the right direction to get more people tuning into the live matches, which is a more significant win for the league. Streaming services which are spiking due to the increase of video streaming platforms such as Facebook, become one of the obvious next step for football leagues. La Liga has ventured into this area, piloting a free Facebook service for Asia in 2018 that has made La Liga easily accessible for millions of Facebook users. Asia is undoubtedly an important market for the Spanish League to gain a large following they need to increase the global viewership. Switching to internet-based streaming is a smart move by the league since internet usage in the region is amongst the highest with over half a billion users and data costs among the lowest.  Facebook currently holds exclusive rights to stream all 380 matches in the La Liga India and South-east Asia. It’s easy to see this model thriving in North America and Africa as well.

There’s no denying that La Liga is the home of champions and championships, exquisite football and the biggest names in the game. The potential for La Liga to become the most-watched league is undoubtedly there and amplifying La Liga’s presence in regions that have not historically been a priority is the right strategy for Spain’s top league. While La Liga attempts to dominate global viewership rankings, for now, Spanish clubs should continue to dominate where it matters most, on the pitch.

How will Atletico Madrid fare in their new era?

No Griezmann, no problem for Atletico

Antoine Griezmann of Club Atletico de Madrid holds his daughter Mia during the La Liga match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Sevilla FC at Wanda Metropolitano on May 12, 2019 in Madrid, Spain.

(May 11, 2019 - Source: Getty Images Europe)

Atletico Madrid is firmly into a new era after long-time Los Rojiblancos talisman, Antoine Griezmann vacated the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium for Camp Nou in a wholesome €120 million deal. Atletico would have preferred to hold on to Griezmann, who has been the club’s top scorer for 5 years. The club's strong disapproval of the secret negotiations that the Frenchman had with Barcelona before sharing his imminent departure with his employers vividly communicated their stance. However, the move was an inevitable one and long time coming as the world cup winner had already expressed his intentions to move in 2018. Besides Griezzy, Atleti have also unpacked crucial players during the transfer window that include Rodri, Lucas Hernandez and veteran defenders, Diego Godin, Juanfran and left-back player Filipe Luis. It all marks the end to an entirely different era, one that was Atleti's most successful spell led by Diego Simeone. The voids left by the departures will not be an easy task to fill but who better to take a stab at it other than the Diego Simeone.

As so often happens when a key player leaves a club, it becomes a challenge to find a player who can fill in the monumental role that they played, case in point, arch-rivals Real Madrid and Ronaldo. Atletico Madrid would then presumably struggle to replace the Frenchman and other players who have been instrumental in Atletico's success in recent seasons. However, Los Rojiblancos need to prove that the contrary is true, that the future post-Griezmann Atletico would be promising and that new players can rise to the occasion to continue the standards that Simeone has wonderfully set for himself. A tough ask, perhaps, but new signings are looking the real deal having already bolstered Atletico's confidence who could actually be ready for their first La Liga title since the remarkable 2013/14 triumph. Despite the odds, Atleti's newfound confidence looks to drive the campaign this season. Their performance in the first three games of the season shows that Atletico is hungry for a La Liga title. Exciting times lie ahead for Atletico Madrid as they launch their post-Griezmann title chase.

Joao Felix of Portugal in action during the UEFA Nations League Semi-Final match between Portugal and Switzerland at Estadio do Dragao on June 05, 2019 in Porto, Portugal.

(June 4, 2019 - Source: Getty Images Europe)

Joao Felix, the embodiment of Atleti’s new era

When you lose your crucial striker and highest goal scorer for the last five seasons, the struggle to find an equally good player that would seamlessly fit into the position in the present market, would be real. For a fee of €126 million, Joao Felix has proved to be a brilliant substitute for Griezmann in the attack. The young attacking midfielder is a creative and powerful forward, and there are few players in Europe today who have the potential to change the fortunes of an entire team more than Atletico's record signing João Félix. The Portuguese teenage sensation is of a calibre of his own with tremendous talent and ambition, who has been touted by former Uruguayan striker Diego Forlan, that he could help Atletico lift the title this season, while some think he's a future Balon d'Or winner. It's not far fetched to think that he holds the key for Atletico. In his breakout season at his former club, Benfica; he was vital in securing the Portuguese title, scoring 15 goals and served up 11 assists in 21 games. On the hunt for an attacking forward this summer, Atletico put up a cool €126 million; the biggest spend in Atletico history for the teenage sensation. It is a sign that Atletico is looking to invest in the future, rebuilding for a new era with a young player, one with more silverware. He is the perfect fit for the new look Atletico that Diego Simeone is building and central to this would be to develop the talented teenager's abilities that will carry Atletico forward. 

Diego Simeone believes that the greatest quality that Joao Felix has is the quick adaptation and versatility added to that, a strong desire to become better. Watching him play, deciphers why Los Rojiblancos would choose to break the piggy bank for this phenomenal talent. At just 19 years old, he has enough talent that shows potential to become the best in Europe. The move has also benefitted the young player as he tries to make a name for himself. In pre-season he scored three goals in 5 matches and had 4 assists, a more than impressive start.

 Are Atletico ready to be crowned champions?

Diego Simeone's squad is showing early signs of title form, posting three wins in three. It is more significant that while Los Rojiblancos have a solid footing this season, rivals Barcelona and Real Madrid have struggled to swoop their first three matches. Real Madrid are still battling with the departure of Ronaldo and despite purchasing an amazing arsenal of players coming into the season including Chelsea top man, Eden Hazard, they have not gotten into a recognizable dominant form. Atletico have also finished above their Madrid neighbors in the last two seasons coming into this new campaign. Public scuffles between Real boss Gareth Bale and injuries that have sidelined Hazard, Eder Militao, Rodrygo signal troubling time for people's champion, Zinadine Zidane. In the first three matches, Atletico have looked sharper and more organized than the squad at Bernabeau.

 Similar sluggish start for Barcelona has strengthened a title contention for last season’s runner ups. If not, there are still many opportunities for Atletico to grow, managing to push past Barcelona. Atletico looks like a more organized and confident side going into this season. The last time Atletico posted a perfect start as they have this season, was in their near-perfect title chase in 2013/14.

Assessing Los Rojiblanco's current squad

As a unit, Atletico is a solid squad that is youthful with some experienced players in the line-up such as Diego Costa. The Spaniard will lead in front alongside Alvaro Morata and Joao Felix. Costa’s performances, instinct and aggression are a set of skills that can make him highly influential for Atleti if the 30-year old were to perform at his highest this season. Alvaro who is on loan from Chelsea until 2020, where the plan is for him to sign on to the Los Rojiblancos permanently also completes a trio that has the potential to cause havoc in Spain and Europe once the UCL starts.

Diego Godin of Atletico Madrid chats with Diego Simeone, manager of Atletico Madrid after Godin's last home match for the club at the end of the La Liga match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Sevilla FC at Wanda Metropolitano on May 12, 2019 in Madrid, Spain.

(May 11, 2019 - Source:/Getty Images Europe)

Simeone’s men also have a lot of talent to work with in the midfield, with the signing of Marcos Llorente from Real Madrid and Hector Herrera who will bring creativity. Ghanaian international, Thomas Partey who scored a crucial goal against Eibar in their third league match will become increasingly important after the departure of Rodri, proving more and more that he is a critical figure in the centre of the park.

Alteti are looking very different at the back this season, owing to the departures of Juanfran, Diego Godin and Filipe Luis. Simeone brought in Spanish defender Mario Hermoso from Espanyol for a €25 million fee to join the duo of Stefan Savić and Jose Giménez in central defence. Hermoso will play a vital role in the strengthening Atletico's defence while, former Tottenham right-back Kieran Trippier hopes to revive his title-winning ambitions on the continent.

 Conclusion

Atletico might be entering into a new era in their club history, but there they come into it blazing and ready to rise to the occasion. The player to watch is undoubtedly Joao Felix, the name that is buzzing in Madrid at this moment, the biggest reason for this newfound excitement and interest in what Atletico has to offer. The talented teen is set to reach peak form at the club where Simeone will develop and finesse his skills. The future for Atletico looks young, focused, ambitious and ready to dominate Spain.

 What do you think could be the biggest roadblock for Atleti this season?

“Diego Simeone believes that the greatest quality that Joao Felix has is the quick adaptation and versatility added to that, a strong desire to become better. Watching him play, deciphers why Los Rojiblancos would choose to break the piggy bank for this phenomenal talent.”

— Margaret Mandeya, FirstTouch Africa

Hazard, Griezmann, De Jong, Vinicius: What's in store for the next era of El Clásico?

Zinedine Zidane manager / head coach of Real Madrid during the UEFA Champions League Semi Final Second Leg match between Real Madrid and Bayern Muenchen at the Bernabeu on May 1, 2018 in Madrid, Spain.

(April 30, 2018 - Source: Catherine Ivill/Getty Images Europe)

La Liga will soon kick-off for the 2019/2020 season. The Spanish League games are sure not to disappoint in delivering edge-of-the-seat kind of football none so more than El Clasico. The highly anticipated El Clasico is a tale of two rival cities, a rivalry that every player that walks into the Camp Nou and Estadio Bernabeu inherits. El Clasico is a local rivalry that has grabbed the attention of millions becoming a staple for football fans across the globe.

The end of an El Clasico era?

The greatest who've ever played the game, played in El Clasico. The list includes the great Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Carles Puyol, and current Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane himself. Throughout the years that El Clasico has excited fans all over the globe, Barcelona and Real Madrid have over the years re-ignited this regional rivalry. Head to head, each side has inflicted some punitive scorelines on the other. While occasionally the arch-rivals have settled for an unsatisfactory draw.  In 242 El Clasico games, Los Blancos have won 95 games while Barcelona have won 96. These stats represent how close the competition is between the clubs.

“The Belgian often likened to Messi, is expected to play at that level, provide much needed goals and instill some fear in opponents. The 28-year old given a chance could pose some rivalry to Lionel in the upcoming season. Hazard, not one to shy away from a challenge on the pitch, if in peak fitness we can expect some reliably solid performances from the magician.  ”

— Margaret Mandeya, FirstTouch Africa

Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona delivers a speech prior to the Joan Gamper trophy friendly match at Nou Camp on August 04, 2019 in Barcelona, Spain.

(Aug. 3, 2019 - Source: Getty Images Europe)

In 2018, the era of the Christiano/Messi El Classico rivalry sadly ended while the world was still at odds deciding who between the two football greats was the best. Last season, Barcelona was undoubtedly the stronger side, winning more El Clasico match-ups while embattled Real Madrid failed to deliver football at the standard of one of the biggest teams on the globe. With a thoroughly underwhelming season for Real Madrid behind them, having registered their worst finish in the last 20 years, nineteen points behind Barcelona, the opportunity to write new history cannot come quick enough.

 Barcelona has been thriving, on the other hand. Lionel Messi continues to be the lynchpin for Barcelona. The greatest of all time has no plans of slowing down anytime soon. In the last decade, Barcelona's success has been the work of the greatest player ever to play an El Clasico, Messi. Messi is the most successful player in the match-up with 26 goals and two hat tricks. The 32-year old ran riot in the 2018/19 El Clasicos after Christiano packed for Juventus, leaving a hugely noticeable gap.

 As Gareth Bale and company failed to keep performing consistently coupled with multiple managerial changes, the challenges at the Santiago Bernabeu mounted. Zidane has even made it clear that he will not be working with Bale this season, sealing Bale’s fate at the Santiago Bernabeu. Reports indicate the pair have not spoken since May. The Welshman who has been struggling with injuries over the years was not able to deliver goals for Los Blancos despite being touted to carry the team after the Christiano era.  Karim Benzema ended the season as the top goal scorer whose personal performances managed to save face for Real Madrid over the previous season. Bale who became a regular feature in El Clasico in recent memory could soon leave Madrid. Isco, another veteran of the game is rumoured to be attracting interesting from the English Premiership and Pep Guardiola's Man City.

THE FACES OF THE NEW ERA

False start Bale

The summer signings from both clubs have been impressive, with Real Madrid recruiting the quick feet and explosive attacking intent of Eden Hazard for a sweet €100 million. The Belgian’s signing became the most expensive for the club, only behind Gareth Bale transfer from Spurs. Hazard is effectively next in line to try and fill the astronomical gap left by Christiano Ronaldo who moved his talents to Juventus before the start of the 2018/2019 season. The former Chelsea talisman is hoping to have as significant an impact on the Madrid attack as Christiano Ronaldo during his nine years at the club—34 La Liga hat tricks and 18 El Classico goals for the Portuguese maestro. The Belgian often likened to Messi, is expected to play at that level, provide much needed goals and instill some fear in opponents. The 28-year old given a chance could pose some rivalry to Lionel in the upcoming season. Hazard, not one to shy away from a challenge on the pitch, if in peak fitness we can expect some reliably solid performances from the Belgian magician. 

Luka Jovic, Benzema’s heir apparent?

Luka Jovic is the unicorn of the summer signings for Los Blancos. The 21-year-old has been at Eintracht Frankfurt where he was labelled an all-rounded powerhouse striker. He's been at the helm of Eintracht Frankfurt, scoring 27 goals last season. The youngster is the player enlisted to Los Blancos for around €60 million on a six-year contract. The move for Jovic attests Zidane's strategy to rebuild a strong attack, and the signing is one of the most impressive of the summer. Jovic is the young player to watch this season along with French defender Mendy who joined Real Madrid from Lyon.

Frenkie de Jong of Barcelona is presented with the man of the match award after the Joan Gamper Trophy pre-season friendly match between FC Barcelona and Arsenal at Nou Camp on August 04, 2019 in Barcelona, Spain.

(Aug. 3, 2019 - Source: Getty Images Europe)

Griezzy the world champion

Barcelona made their major signing of the summer in Antoine Griezmann. The 2018 world cup winner made his move to Barcelona for a massive €120 million. The Frenchman who plays a similar center forward position as Messi is adamant that his role is not to replace La Pulga. The former Atletico talisman, who rose to become one of the club's top scorers of all time will likely play a supporting role for Messi. With Neymar signing uncertain and unlikely for that matter, Griezmann will form part of the attacking cavalry that Barcelona has needed to strengthen their squad for the season. The pressure on Griezmann as the biggest transfer payout for Barcelona this summer pales in comparison to the expectation that Hazard's move will restore glory to Santiago Bernabeu. The Frenchman’s powerful strike is simply a notable addition to the team at Camp Nou.

Frenkie & Junior, the future

The signing of Frenkie de Jong, another young player who made rounds in Europe for his performances at Ajax adds another face to new El Clasico era. The same Ajax who shocked the world when they made it to the semi-finals of the 2018/19 UEFA Champions League season. The 22-year Dutch midfielder is a versatile player able to thrive at both the attacking and defensive midfield positions. Another much talked about Barca signing is defender Junior Firpo from Real Betis for €18 million. The defender is an ideal candidate to bolster the left-back position by proving adequate cover for Jordi Alba and utlimately strengthen the entire Barcelona defence.

CAN ZIDANE RESCUE THE STRUGGLING LOS BLANCOS, JUST IN TIME?

Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid CF controls the ball during the Santiago Bernabeu Trophy between Real Madrid CF and AC Milan at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on August 11, 2018 in Madrid, Spain.

(Aug. 10, 2018 - Source: Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images Europe)

Having played El Clasico for Real, Zizzou has also coached Madrid to three El Clasico wins in this first tenure as Los Blancos manager and now he is back for a second stint. The pressure on the Balon d’Or winner is mounting as Real look to re-emerge as Spain's top club over their arch-rivals. Since his return, Zidane is actually yet to make an impact on the team's performances. After these summer signings, it's clear that the French manager is orchestrating and building a strong attack. The two-time Champions League winner has to inject massive life into the ailing Real Madrid side before the start of the new season. After being given more control over the players that will be coming to Santiago Bernabeu, Zidane has been hands-on. On the radar for the manager is Paul Pogba, who could bring star power to the El Clasico and another face to the new era if the move materialises.

SPANISH TITLE RACE

The Spanish title race has many times been decided on the El Clasico matchup. Barcelona were consistent last season and look the healthiest going into the 2019/2020 La Liga season. Real Madrid needs to round up and do some housekeeping after the controversies between Zidane and Bale. After fundamentally weakening Atletico Madrid with the departure of Griezmann, Barcelona look like the favorites coming into the new season. The question will be if Zidane can pull the morale of the team together and reclaim their position of Spanish Champions over their El Clasico foes. Ernesto Valverde is in a more comfortable position as his squad has only grown from strength to strength even after comfortably clinching a second successive La Liga title. The Spanish manager however needs to gain some more domestic cups titles including the Copa del Rey and most especially the UCL, which may divide their attention more than is needed.

CONCLUSION

The El Clasico has a history stretching back to the beginning of the 20th century and each decade brings a new era and star players who carry the spirit of rivalry and ignite the passion all over again. The game is about the pride of a region and to settle which city is truly the home of football in Spain. A period of transition for both sides and while Real Madrid's transformation has been bumpy the prospects for an improved outfit are real. Do you think that Madrid can top Barcelona this coming season? Who will be victorious when the two meet?

Why Zinedine Zidane’s return to Real Madrid is a flex

Real Madrid CF president Florentino Perez (L) and Zinedine Zidane (R) attend a press conference to announce his resignation as Real Madrid coach at Valdebebas Sport City on May 31, 2018 in Madrid, Spain. Zidane steps down from the position of Manager of Real Madrid, after leading the club to it's third consecutive UEFA Champions League title.

(May 30, 2018 - Source: Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images Europe)

As action around European football comes to a close, for some it has been wonderful, then again for others, it has been one to forget. Such is the case for Real Madrid. This season might easily go down as one of the club’s worst seasons after a disastrous campaign. From being crowned European champions for a third successive time, who could have thought that Real Madrid would have a shockingly disappointing season?

About his departure

When Zinedine Zidane announced his shocking departure from Real Madrid at the backdrop of winning his third consecutive UEFA Champions league trophy with the club, one would assume that it was the beginning of the “end” for the club. Zidane left Madrid having delivered success that was unprecedented in the modern era. The days of clubs’ ability to retain the European Cup were long gone. Nobody had done it in the Champions League era. He did. And then he did it again, defying history and maths by winning more Champions League trophies than he had spent years in charge. But things began to unravel almost as soon as he was gone. However, the selling story regarding why Zidane left the club was due to the club's decision to sell Cristiano Ronaldo instead of Gareth Bale. Apart from Bale, it is also said that Zidane wanted to sign new players and sell others, including Isco, but the club’s President did not agree with those terms. Hence he left.

“Like the parent who returns from the shops to find that the kids have run amok, set fire to the kitchen and soiled the carpet, he’s not angry, he’s just disappointed. Perhaps such has been the worry around Zidane’s return to the club, the fact that it is merely a shadow of the side he left nine months ago. ”

— Siphosethu Thwala, FirstTouch Africa

Head coach Santiago Solari of Real Madrid CF sits on the bench prior to start the La Liga match between Real Madrid CF and FC Barcelona at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on March 02, 2019 in Madrid, Spain.

(March 1, 2019 - Source: Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images Europe)

Take two

After Zidane’s departure, the club announced the appointment of then Spain coach Julen Lopetegui just before the start of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in what was a shell-shocking move. Lopetegui himself was criticized for not consulting the Spanish Federation about the deal. The European Super Cup was surrendered to neighbours Atletico Madrid in the first game of Julen Lopetegui's brief reign and it only got worse from there. Lopetegui was eventually sacked in October 2018. After Lopetegui’s sacking, in came caretaker coach Santi Solari who tried stabilizing the ship and subsequently offered a long-term contract. Despite signing a contract until 2021 after an interim period, Solari lasted only 133 days as Real Madrid boss. He was finally dismissed after a horrific run of results, which included losing back-to-back EL Clasicos in the Copa del Rey and La Liga. The last nail on Santi Solari’s “coffin” came when Madrid were humiliated in their own beloved Bernabeu by Ajax. The Dutch club turned back the clock let alone reversed the natural order of things with their 4-1 win to end Madrid's long reign as champions of Europe.

Twist of fate in the Zizou-Real romance

Upon his return, the 46-year old Frenchman has made it clear that while he is happy to be back,there will be plenty of changes as he sets about leading Los Blancos back to the summit of European football. Furthermore, it is more likely that Zizou will be given more decision-making power in as far as the signing of players is concerned. His love for the club he had graced both as a player and coach, he said, was too great for him to resist. “I could not say no,” he said. “I am here because the president called me.” Like the parent who returns from the shops to find that the kids have run amok, set fire to the kitchen and soiled the carpet, he's not angry, he's just disappointed. Perhaps such has been the worry around Zidane’s return to the club, the fact that it is merely a shadow of the side he left nine months ago. Nonetheless, one would argue that the return of Zidane couldn’t have happened at a better time than it did. Having returned with

just under 15 matches to play, this might well be the right time for him to analyse the team in terms of its depth and areas where the team needs strengthening. It is an open secret that Real Madrid will be very busy in the upcoming transfer window with the aim of doing away with an ageing team and bringing fresh blood that will help the team compete once again.

Zinedine Zidane, Manager of Real Madrid gives his team instructions during a Real Madrid training session ahead of the UEFA Champions League Final against Liverpool at NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium on May 25, 2018 in Kiev, Ukraine.

(May 24, 2018 - Source: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images Europe)

 The beginning of a new beginning

Since Zinedine Zidane arrived at Real Madrid for a second era, he has made it clear in every press conference that he foresees an era of change. In the mind of the coach, he is drawing up a new-look Real Madrid, with new players, with some major departures and with a team that will be very different to the one that won four Champions League titles in five years. With sixregular starters being 30 or older, including the likes of Marcelo, Ramos and Modric, the writing is on the wall that the team needs to revamp in order to become competitive once more. The famous BBC trident of Ronaldo, Bale and Benzema is a thing of the past, as Ronaldo left for Juventus, and Bale himself on the brink of an exit. Bale himself has failed to live up to expectations when it mattered the most. Many believed he would grab his chance when Ronaldo left, but injuries and below-par performances have added fuel to the fire of the Welshman’s almost certain exit during the summer. Add to that, the team’s midfield is also in an evolution process and at this point, it is unclear whether Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, Casemiro and even Isco for that matter, will be the preferred starters come next season, especially after the disappointing year all the players have had. Another area that appears to be overlooked yet critical is the centre back position which I believe also needs beefing up. Sergio Ramos has been a loyal servant but he may no longer be the player the club wants to build its defence around in two years’ time, hence the need for a new defender that can partner up with Varane. In that regard, the club has been able to land a defender in Eder Militao who has joined on a deal until 2025,for a fee of around £43m.

Paul Pogba of Manchester United and Eden Hazard of Chelsea embrace prior to the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on October 20, 2018 in London, United Kingdom.

(Oct. 19, 2018 - Source: Catherine Ivill/Getty Images Europe)

A speculative summer is on the cards

Nonetheless, there is still more work to be done by the club as far as signings are concerned, going into the summer transfer market. Perhaps one silver lining in this Madrid team is the emergence of Vinicius Junior, who has already shown what he can offer this side in his debut season. Not only him, but also the resurgence of Karim Benzema has had everyone paying attention to his capabilities which often times than not have been overlooked. So far, Benzema has raked in more than 30 goals in all competitions for Madrid, showing how lethal he can be. Still, the reality of the need to sign new players remain pivotal to Real Madrid. Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has planned out a mapping of how he plans on replacing Cristiano Ronaldo’s goals next season. Many star player names have been thrown around linking them to the club. These include Eden Hazard, Sadio Mane and Paul Pogba. Hazard’s creativity would be something that can greatly benefit Los Blancos coupled with his eye for goal. Secondly, with Gareth Bale’s exit being a subject of speculation, Sadio Mane’s name has also been thrown in as a viable replacement and unsurprisingly so, given the amazing season he’s had with Liverpool. The Senegalese forward has a great burst of pace that would most certainly be beneficial to Real Madrid’s trademark style of counter-attacking gameplay. To round off the list, Zidane has also been rumoured to be keen on signing fellow Frenchman Paul Pogba, in a move that may be far-fetched but still possible given Pogba’s struggles at United. All these potential arrivals would not necessarily mean that Karim Benzema has a reduced role though. It is likely that the Frenchman will continue to be in the coach’s plans and he has shown that he can grab the

spotlight if he is made the leading figure in the team, moreover, given Zidane’s continued trust in Benzema paid dividends in recent times.

Is it only a matter of time?

The 2019/20 season is a big one for Los Blancos and the return of Zidane might be the recipe needed by the club to reclaim their glory days. The team’s resurgence nonetheless depends on a number of factors, mainly how things play out in the upcoming summer transfer window. If the club gets the players it wants, then they may be well on their way back to the top. It may, however, take some time for Zidane to get the best out the new crop of players, something that may not see the team being strong competitors for honours in the next season. Deciding on the formation, whether to stick to Zidane’s 4-3-3 style of play, or switching to an alternative formation to allow as many key players in the team as possible may contribute to the slow progress. However, once they get their combinations right, Real Madrid will easily regain their position as the one of the three best teams in the world. The road to recovery has already begun with Zidane’s comeback, it is only a matter of time before we see the “Real” Real Madrid. What’s your take on Madrid’s prospects, can they bounce back next season? Is the return of Zidane the right tonic for them?

“ The last nail on Santi Solari’s “coffin” came when Madrid were humiliated in their own beloved Bernabeu by Ajax. The Dutch club turned back the clock let alone reversed the natural order of things with their 4-1 win to end Madrid’s long reign as champions of Europe.”

— Siphosethu Thwala, FirstTouch Africa

Is Karim Benzema the best striker in Real Madrid’s club history?

Raul Gonzalez of Real Madrid celebrates after scoring Real's first goal during the La Liga match between Real Madrid and Valladolid at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium on April 12, 2009 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images) * Local Caption * Raul Gonzalez

(April 12, 2009 - Source: Denis Doyle/Getty Images Europe)

Is Karim Benzema the best striker in Real Madrid’s club history?

Real Madrid Club de Fútbol, commonly referred to as Real Madrid is undeniably one of the most decorated clubs on the face of the earth. The Spanish giants have won everything there is to win, on countless occasions. With 33 La Liga titles, 13 UEFA Champions League trophies and 4 FIFA Club World Cup accolades to show for it, what else can a fan ask for. Their rich history is painted by some of the greatest names in the game of football that braced the white colors and terrorized teams in Europe, and beyond. Think of Alfredo Di Stéfano, Ferenc Puskás, Santillana, Hugo Sánchez, Raúl and the recently departed Cristiano Ronaldo who have all scored more than 200 goals for the club. In the midst of all this, there has been a growing debate about the case of French forward, Karim Benzema. Some make a claim for him being the greatest striker that the club has seen. Before disregarding this view. Let’s explore his journey.

 Joining Madrid as a youngster

As expected of the biggest clubs in the world, only the best players across the continent make it to the first team of the Los Blancos. Some have to wait until they hit their prime age which can be way into their late 20s. For instance, a world-cup winner in Zinedine Zidane, only captured the attention of Real Madrid at the age of 29 and moved to the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu in 2001. Such is the demand for quality at the club. Their blockbuster transfer policy targeting the best players in the world has since been referred to as Galactico signings. In the case of Karim, the forward joined Real Madrid from Lyon at the age of 21 in a deal believed to be in the region of $50 million. He had only managed to score 43 goals in 112 appearances which amounted to 4 French Ligue 1 titles. Unlike Zidane, he had no FIFA World Cup winners’ medal. This attests to Benzema’s talent as a kid which caught the eye of Madrid and allowed him to become the third most expensive signing on their books in 2009 only after Ricardo Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo. No doubt, Benzema was privileged to join Real Madrid at such a young age.

Slow Start

Just like any player that joins the Real Madrid dressing room, Karim Benzema had huge shoes to fill. At the time, he faced competition from the club captain Raul Gonzalez, a striker regarded to be one of the best the Spanish National team has ever had. Also, there was a certain Gonzalo Higuain, the prodigy from the Real Madrid B team that was making waves and staking a claim for a seat at the big table. Really, Benzema had no right to ask for anything. In a total of 33 appearances, he scored just 9 goals compared to Gonzalo Higuain’s 24 goals in 44 appearances. Despite the marginal goal return, the then Real Madrid coach, Jose Mourinho had seen enough from the youngster to force club legend, Raul to the exit door. Consequently, Raul left the club the following season and the striking responsibilities were left to the pair.

“How Benzema’s movement drew Chiellini out of position before releasing the ball to Ronaldo who slid it through to Dani Carvajal on the right flank. From that moment, you could tell this was a goal scoring move...”

— Tinotenda Magiya, FirstTouch Africa

Evolution of Striking Role

Having followed football in the past two decades, one can witness the evolution of the game which has resulted in an increase in the demand of ball-playing abilities from all 11 players inclusive of the goalkeeper. In the present day, strikers are seen leading the press when out of possession and are pivotal in counter attacking football where their hold-up play is questioned and they are tasked with feeding the ball to the wide channels. Jose Mourinho was way ahead of his time and quickly noticed that Benzema was not just capable of fitting this role, but also maintain a fair number of goal returns. As such, Benzema had an edge over Gonzalo Higuain even though the Argentinian was more ferocious in front goal. For about 3 more seasons, the pair were used interchangeably with Higuain undoubtedly more efficient in scoring goals but he could never get it around his head as to why he was not a clear starter in the Real Madrid team. As a result, he gave up and left for Napoli in 2013, leaving the reigns in Karim Benzema’s hands. It is fair to say that Real Madrid have not lived to regret that decision considering the hefty $44 million sum paid by the Italian club for a player struggling to keep Benzema off the team.

Cristiano Ronaldo (R) of Real Madrid CF celebrates scoring their opening goal with teammate Karim Benzema (L) during the La Liga match between Real Madrid CF and FC Barcelona at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on October 25, 2014 in Madrid, Spain.

(Oct. 24, 2014 - Source: Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images Europe)

Complementing Cristiano Ronaldo

As established, Karim Benzema had outstanding playmaking abilities. His unselfishness on the pitch, often saw him drifting out wide creating space for Ronaldo to occupy the central positions where he created the most havoc from and scored unthinkable number of goals. In Ronaldo’s best years of his career, he was playing with Karim Benzema, the striker that sacrificed a lot for the Portuguese international to achieve greatness and earn a mention among the talk of the best players of all time. Take a moment to reflect on Ronaldo’s opener in the UEFA Champions League final against Juventus in 2017. How Benzema’s movement drew Chiellini out of position before releasing the ball to Ronaldo who slid it through to Dani Carvajal on the right flank. From that moment, you could tell this was a goal scoring move as the Juventus defence was left confused as to whom will receive the final pass in the box. Benzema drew another defender in Barzagli. In the end, Ronaldo tapped home the goal from the edge of the edge of the eighteen area and sped off to the corner flag for his trademark goal celebration. We saw this on several occasions. The pair stroke up a devastating partnership which saw Ronaldo finishing off most of the moves and Benzema being hailed the master or genius behind the goals. Apart from that, one also ought to consider his defensive contribution in the new shape Madrid team especially in the absence of Gareth Bale. Cristiano Ronaldo was the only player free of defensive duties in the Real Madrid team which meant that his partner had to do most of the dirty work. Benzema covered the ground in tight matches like the El Classicos where Barcelona had most of the possession and the Los Blancos had to do a lot of chasing. All this he did knowing that if he could manage to thread through just one ball in between the lines to Ronaldo, he was the only player who could turn half a chance into a goal. Therefore, Benzema adapted his game to bring out the best in Ronaldo. This adaptation should never be underestimated considering Benzema was an out-and-out striker capable of scoring goals on his own. In addition, the best players must have the ability to adapt to a situation and perform at any club. The likes of Kaka failed to live up to expectations partly due to the fact that he could not adapt his game as he was used to being the main man in his previous club. That said, Benzema should be respected for being able to adapt his game to suit the team and survive in the club for as long a time as he has done. A decade to be specific.

Karim Benzema of Real Madrid celebrates after scoring his sides first goal during the UEFA Champions League Final between Real Madrid and Liverpool at NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium on May 26, 2018 in Kiev, Ukraine.

(May 25, 2018 - Source: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images Europe)

 Form after Ronaldo

Post the Cristiano Ronaldo era, Benzema is leading the line for Real Madrid with little competition for a starting berth. This season, he has managed to score a total of 31 goals across all competitions and is the second highest goal scorer in La Liga with 21 goals, only behind Lionel Messi. Karim’s finishing abilities had been doubted over the past 9 seasons when Ronaldo was there as he was doing more of the creating but he is beginning to show his natural skill which is to sag nets. With 5 matches to go, the Real Madrid forward is on course to outscore all the traditional forwards in the league, i.e. the number 9s, precisely what is expected of strikers at Real Madrid.

The Accolades

The talk of the best in modern day football involves the individual contribution and the collective achievements won by the players. The debate about Messi and Ronaldo boils down to Ballon d’Ors and UEFA Champions League crowns. Although Benzema is yet to win the Ballon d’Or, he has done the most in winning everything winnable at club level. The table below shows Benzema’s achievements in comparison with other Real Madrid players in his position.

Name UEFA Champs La Liga FIFA Club WC Total Accolades

Benzema 4 2 4 10

Di Stefano 5 8 1 14

Raul 3 6 2 11

To date, Benzema has a total of 10 major trophies just 4 shy of Di Stefano’s achievements. This is promising for the striker who has just turned 31. He looks indispensable at the heart of the front line and with Zidane returning to the club, his fortunes look promising. Furthermore, the eras in which these players played for Madrid is different. Di Stefano and Raul were privileged to play in an era when Real Madrid was dominating domestically. The level of competition from the rivals was not as stiff as of the present day. That said, Benzema is at a disadvantage and has to inspire his team to change the narrative.

 Individual Stats

The most interesting part for some. The numbers that reflect the individual’s contribution to the game.

Name Goals Scored No. of Appearances

Benzema 222 462

Di Stefano 323 741

Raul 308 396

From this, it is evident that Benzema has the least compared to the rest. However, this does not take anything away from his individual contribution as he was playing with Ronaldo, and made sure that the player became the greatest goal scorer Real Madrid have ever had. Cristiano Ronaldo scored a record total of 450 goals in 438 appearances. Without Ronaldo, Benzema could have easily doubled his tally as long as he was given the respect his predecessors had when leading the team from the last third of the pitch.

Verdict

In conclusion, I think it is justifiable to consider that Karim Benzema is among the finest strikers that Real Madrid has seen. As established, his individual talent combined with his unselfishness on the pitch has had a ripple effect on the performances of other players like Ronaldo, and consequently, the team. Despite not playing in an era of dominance by the Spanish giants like his foes, he still managed to stake a claim among the greatest Los Blancos strikers. I think Karim has a good shout for being the best. What are your thoughts?

Why a Hazard move to Real Madrid makes sense this summer

“For starters Hazard has won everything that is there for the taking in the English Premier League. He has won two premier league titles, one FA Cup and two league cups with the Blues.”

— Siphosethu Thwala, FirstTouch Africa

Eden Hazard is a wanted man, for his impeccable football talent that is. For a long time now, news of Hazard being linked with a transfer from Chelsea to Real Madrid have been making the rounds. Considered by most to be the best player in the premier league. Eden Hazard has proven his worth in the most competitive league in worldwide football and now might be the right time for him to take his career to the next stage.

For starters Hazard has won everything that is there for the taking in the English premier League. He has won two premier league titles, one FA Cup and two league cups with the Blues. Not only that, Hazard has also won the PFA Player of the year award during the 2014-2015 season. Nonetheless, Hazard is still missing a UEFA Champions league medal in his list of accolades, and with Real Madrid having dominated Europe the way they have over the last three seasons, it would make sense why the 28-year old could go to Madrid as chances of him getting his hands onto the Champions league trophy might be more realistic in Los Blancos’ white.

Eden Hazard of Chelsea applauds fans after the Premier League match between Southampton FC and Chelsea FC at St Mary's Stadium on October 7, 2018 in Southampton, United Kingdom.

(Oct. 6, 2018 - Source: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images Europe)

Chelsea are sitting in sixth position in the Premier League and face an uphill battle in earning a place in the very competitive top four race. This means that they are most likely to miss out on a UEFA champions league spot, unless they win the Europa League. What’s more, Hazard will be entering the final year of his contract with the blues next season, and with the club not showing strong intentions of keeping him, perhaps selling him at the end of this season might make financial sense compared to losing him on a free next summer.

Real Madrid on the other hand, are facing a major overhaul in the summer, with Zinedine Zidane reported to have been handed a handsome £300m transfer kitty to spend on revamping the ageing squad.  At present, the team comprises of many players who are on the wrong side of 30 and in the twilight of their careers. Players such as Luka Modric, Marcelo, Sergio Ramos, Karim Benzema only but to name a few. Furthermore, from an offensive standpoint, Madrid have run dry of goals due to Ronaldo’s departure, and with Bale not likely to be the main figure, it becomes apparent that the team needs a star player that can get them the goals as well as create chances for the side. Hazard ticks both boxes. Thus, in order to bounce back from a disastrous season, Madrid are most certainly going to be very active in the transfer market and Hazard may be the main target for the club.

Considering the above, making a move to La Liga would be the noble thing to do for Hazard. For starters, he would be fulfilling his dream of always wanting to play for Real Madrid. Moreover, this move would help him have a shot at challenging for the coveted Balon d’Or award which has become rather elusive for most players. Most football fans are aware of the immense talent that Hazard has, some even arguing that it is worthy to rival the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi both who for the past eleven years, have shared the Ballon d’Or equally amongst themselves. Now, with Hazard hitting his prime age, being at the Santiago Bernabeu would most certainly boost his chances of competing for the prize provided he adapts well and faster to Spanish football.

UCL: Ajax schooling Real Madrid, the climax of football entertainment

Dusan Tadic of Ajax celebrates scoring a goal with Hakim Ziyech during the Eredivisie match between Ajax and Emmen at Johan Cruyff Arena on August 25, 2018 in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

(Aug. 24, 2018 - Source: Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images Europe)

I didn’t want the ninety minutes to end, my soul was yearning for something like ninety years.

It was all in there; sheer teamwork, individual brilliance, woodwork shots that leave you on the edge of your seat, “poetic justice” and much much more. It was not park the bus stuff we have been made to see recently, but end to end stuff of the experienced up against the less experienced. They were no sacred cows, as long as they were playing the round ball - all was willing to show what they can do with it.

Many post-match commentaries have spoken extensively as to why the holders of the UEFA Champions League crown, Real Madrid, fell victim to the young Ajax side. As tempting as it is to talk about the “bully” who has won the title, 4 times in the past 5 seasons, with many times just scrapping past opponents with a stroke of fortune or as some would argue, courtesy of experience - Ajax’s side of the story is a better one. More so because I selfishly get to say, I told you so as my predictions were all in favor of the Dutch Eredivisie side going through to the next stage.

“We never thought it could get worse, but it did. After early signs of getting back into the game with Real Madrid’s Asensio and Benzema working out a few moments of magic with no success, that other star took his turn to kill the game.”

— Dennis Takaendesa, FirstTouch Africa

Just seven minutes into the match, as I bumped into the room, Morocco’s Ziyech bumped into the Madrid box and carefully stroked the ball into the net after Dusan Tadic had laid it on the most silver platter. That was just moments after Raphael Varane had hit the woodwork on the other end after being gifted a free header by the unsuspecting Ajax defence. It got worse for the Spanish La Liga side, and it was that man again - the number 10 of the night, Dusan Tadic. This time, the Serbian turned the turf into his dancefloor, breezed past a few midfielders, including the mighty Casemiro by means of the marseille turn, made popular by Zinedine Zidane. As if that was not enough, the 30-year-old laid another assist for the 22-year-old David Neres, a relatively lightweight who didn’t trouble Sergio Ramos in the first leg. As they say, when the cat is away, the mice play- that was Neres. The young forward needed no second invitation as he sustained a challenge from Modric and chipped the ball beyond Courtois’ reach for Ajax’s second. Confidence oozing, Ajax out their traps and Madrid exposed, Neres almost retired Carvajal on the touchline before the whistle came all too quickly to momentarily call out the city fire squad because the Bernabeu was basically in flames.

Andre Onana of Ajax and Matthijs de Ligt of Ajax celebrate following their sides victory in the Group E match of the UEFA Champions League between Ajax and SL Benfica at Johan Cruyff Arena on October 23, 2018 in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

(Oct. 22, 2018 - Source: Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images Europe)

We never thought it could get worse, but it did. After early signs of getting back into the game with Real Madrid’s Asensio and Benzema working out a few moments of magic with no success, that other star took his turn to kill the game. A feisty battle on the touchline, won by another Moroccan, Noussair Mazraoui resulted in a goal, controversially so as the ball looked like it had gone out of play. All I remember is that it ended in the glad feet of Tadic who took his time to place it in the top corner as he capped off what he called, perhaps the best match he had ever played. The unrelenting Asensio pulled one back for the champions but almost immediately, Ajax had another answer. Denmark’s Lasse Schone was delegated a task, preyfuly spied on the Belgian goalkeeper and dipped the ball into the net from the unlikeliest of positions. The Morrocan wonder, who scored in both legs, Hakim Ziyech, almost added a fifth from close range but somehow skied his effort. The four were more than enough to send the champions packing.

Now, the above narration sounds good but what makes this particular match an exhibit of a climax in football entertainment? Very simple, it was a David-Goliath story played before our very own eyes. Whether you were a Madrid or Ajax fan, it was difficult to be blind to the majestic displays. We looked on as a fairytale was being played and written.

The dreams of the Ajax kids were proved valid against the more mature and seasoned Madrid side. Conclusively, all dreams actually remain valid, at least in the world of football. It was all just the round of 16 - what more awaits us in the subsequent stages of the 2018/19 UEFA Champions League season.

Africans In The UCL: Morocco well represented as Ajax lose to VAR assisted Madrid

“Ziyech had proven to be a thorn in the flesh to Real from the get go, tackling attackers and pulling together markers to count the numbers on their shirts.”

— Dennis Takaendesa, FirstTouch Africa

Sounds like the same narrative all over again, Real Madrid turning on the screw to conquer, pretty much to the “bereavement” of countless European opponents. The final scoreline on the night read 2-1 in favor of the visiting Los Blancos but revealed little of the night’s narrative.

Unheralded Ajax completely bossed the match to say the least, but the champions worked on winning it, which they did expertly. Erik Ten Hag’s youthful side bolstered by the talents of Frenkie De Jong, David Neres, Kasper Dolberg, Noussair Mazraoui; all who are 21 years of age except 19-year-old captain, Matthijs De Ligt - were unfazed by the challenge of the seasoned, record 13-time champions league winners. The visitors who have won the trophy four times in the last 5 seasons. A total shots of 19 compared to Madrid’s 13, 50-50 ball possession, 71.4% dribbles completion rate as opposed to Real’s 38.9%, 91 recoveries against the champions’ 74 amongst many other statistics further proves the point. In fact, the whole of first half belonged to Ajax who had a goal controversially ruled out for a foul after VAR consultation, a possible pardon to Thibaut Courtois who had been caught sleeping by Nicolas Tagliafico’s header from a corner. The scores were 0-0 at half-time but one of the biggest chances of the first 45, had fallen to one of the protagonists heading into the encounter, Morocco’s Hakim Ziyech who had his tame effort punched away by the Real Madrid goalkeeper from close range. That was moments after Tadic had his own effort hit the far post. Ziyech would however make amends in the second-half.

Hakim Ziyech of Ajax in action during the UEFA Champions League Play-off 1st leg match between Ajax and Dynamo Kiev held at Johan Cruyff Arena on August 22, 2018 in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

(Aug. 21, 2018 - Source: Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images Europe)

The champions broke the deadline at the hour mark, with only their second shot on target of the half as 18-year-old Vinicius Junior got the better of another Moroccan, Noussair Mazraoui. The Brazilian proved too much for the 21-year-old right back as well as two other Ajax defenders as he blazed past them to setup Benzema for an emphatic top corner finish past the 22-year-old Cameroonian goalkeeper, Andre Onana. If you are wondering, the answer is yes, they were actually quite a number of Africans on show in Amsterdam. Ziyech had proven to be a thorn in the flesh to Real from the get go, tackling attackers and pulling together markers to count the numbers on their shirts. The crowning moment came in the 75th minute as the 25-year-old Moroccan placed a shot past Courtois from a beautiful Neres cross. They could have had a second one moments later when a quick one-two between Ziyech and Tadic resulted in Dolberg blazing the final shot off target. In the end, it was Marco Asensio who came off the bench to win it for Madrid in the 87th minute by finishing off a swift counter attack.

Real Madrid would be delighted to go back to the Bernabeu with a one goal advantage, more so two away goals for that matter against a less experienced Ajax side, but nothing about their performance on the night gives the assurance that they are out of harm’s way. I am sticking to my prediction of the Dutch side upsetting the champions.

In other UCL round of 16 matches played on Tuesday, Kylian Mbappe and PSG finished it sweet and clean by overcoming Manchester United 2-0 at the Old Trafford, while Roma edge FC Porto 2-1. Before the return legs on the 6th of March, there are more champions league round of 16 fixtures coming up in the next week and we will be there to preview the matches with you.

UCL Preview: Ziyech and Ajax target the scalp of the champions

Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid CF controls the ball during the Santiago Bernabeu Trophy between Real Madrid CF and AC Milan at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on August 11, 2018 in Madrid, Spain.

(Aug. 10, 2018 - Source: Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images Europe)

There is an incredible feeling of security and surety in the Real Madrid air which had become quite rare in the past few months, since the departure of the juggernaut, Cristiano Ronaldo and former boss in Zinedine Zidane. It’s worth noting now more than ever, by reason of a solid performance put in by Los Blancos to secure a 1-1 El-Clasico draw away at Barcelona on Wednesday, in the first leg of the Copa Del Rey semi-final. However, the next Wednesday presents a new challenge, one I believe to be the most revealing. The numbers 4, 21, and 22 do not sound a lot like a perfect symphony on paper but happen to be more than that on the field of play. Santiago Solari and Real Madrid will have to find a way to discord the harmony of the triad orchestra.

The Madrid context

I am talking about Matthijs de Ligt, Frenkie de Jong, Hakim Ziyech and their shirt numbers. Ajax FC booked a UEFA Champions League round of 16 slot after a thoroughly impressive campaign that saw them finish second in a group that also featured Benfica, Bayern Munich and AEK Athens. The Dutch Eredivisie club actually finished the group stages unbeaten and will by no means be a free pass for the record 13 time champions who usually come alive at this stage of the competition. Real Madrid seemingly have their feet in the water; two managerial appointments in 4 months, teenage signings in the summer transfer window and 8 points off bitter rivals Barcelona in the La Liga title race; all do not tell a story of “the Madrid way.” The most recent El Clasico draw at the Camp Nou did offer some hope of a new and more resilient Real but the champions league outing to Ajax should be the biggest test to their resolve, yet.

Not the same story

What do I think of course, Madrid have been in this position before, when they will be off the pace in the Spanish La Liga but then go beast mode and conquer the whole of Europe, in a typical water to wine fashion. That’s actually how their have been rolling in the past few years, including those in which they grabbed 3 champions league titles in a row. With no Ronaldo in their squad, the all-time UCL record scorer and Zidane, the orchestrator of the 3 title triumphs and adding an unpopular but solid setup of Ajax to the equation - it’s an entirely different story this campaign. Erik ten Hagen’s men are giving the vibes of Dortmund 2013 who unexpectedly went all the way to the final, even knocking out Real Madrid in the process. The Amsterdam club comprises of course the 22-year-old Cameroonian international goalkeeper, Andre Onana and the big number 4, Matthijs de Ligt - the teenager good enough to captain the side. De Ligt has been frequenting in the news as the likes of PSG and Barcelona are reported to toiling day and night to win the signature of the big, young center-half. Speaking of Barcelona, they recently acquired Ajax’s number 21, Frenkie de Jong for £65 million, the star ball playing midfielder who is tipped to help fill the void left by Xavi and Andres Iniesta. The 21-year-old de Jong links up with de Ligt from the back and ignites the final magic number, shirt number 22 where it gets even more interesting.

“However, the next Wednesday presents a new challenge, one I believe to be the most revealing. The numbers 4, 21, and 22 do not sound a lot like a perfect symphony on paper but happen to be more than that on the field of play. Santiago Solari and Real Madrid will have to find a way to discord the harmony of the triad orchestra.”

— Dennis Takaendesa, FirstTouch Africa

Hakim Ziyech of Ajax is challenged by Ljubomir Fejsa of Benfica (L) and Gedson of Benfica during the Group E match of the UEFA Champions League between Ajax and SL Benfica at Johan Cruyff Arena on October 23, 2018 in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

(Oct. 22, 2018 - Source: Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images Europe)

The Left-Hooker

We have featured the Moroccan here on FirstTouch, several times and was ofcourse one of the biggest topics of African football in the year 2018 when he appeared for Lions of the Atlas at the 2018 world cup in Russia. Regarded as currently one of the best playmakers in the world, Ziyech has been delivering the goods for Ajax since day 1 and Madrid will have to work on silencing the 25-year-old if they hope for a favorable result. His arm like left-foot remind me of my favorite childhood boxer who stung opponents with a left and earned the praise name, “Left-hooker.” After being deployed a bit further up the pitch as one of the front 3 in Erik ten Hagen’s 4-3-3 setup, Ziyech has proven worthy of the role.The Moroccan has since scored 12 goals and 8 others in 17 Eredivisie appearances. That is an astounding average of 1.2 goal involvement in every other match he has played.

I will just leave this one right there, who you got? Ajax or the serial champions, Real Madrid.

My Prediction: Ajax will go through to the quarter-finals by upsetting Los Blancos.

We argue Real Madrid could be fixed in two Senegalese signatures

“This is where Koulibaly would come in handy. Plug him next to the experienced Ramos and the 2018 World Cup winner, Raphael Varane and no one would dare to attack them in open play.”

— Tinotenda Magiya, FirstTouch Africa

We all know it! It’s not working. The biggest club in world football is struggling. They lost two leaders at the end of last season. Cristiano Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane departed the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu for personal reasons which are closely linked. With them, they left a club with an ageing defence and toothless attack. Both of them were bringing out the best in the Madrid squad to play on the biggest stage, but the Spanish club has since lost that. So now what? How do they solve this? Two players. Kalidou Koulibaly and Sadio Mane.

Add another body in defence

Kalidou Koulibaly is arguably the best centre back in the world right now. The Senegalese has been consistent in his performances for a while now and his efforts are starting to be recognized by many. But what about Ramos you may ask. Check his stats. Whoscored gathered that he’s averaging 0.7 blocks per game in the Spanish La Liga. His defensive work rate is now off the pace although his attacking prowess is undeniable. Ramos has scored 7 goals and provided 1 assist already across all competitions this season which shows that he has a lot to offer. With him leading the attack from the back, he could benefit from having the presence of the African defender who is more than capable of bossing around some of the toughest strikers in Europe having already pocketed the likes Edinson Cavani when Napoli faced Paris Saint-Germain in November 2018. Koulibaly could ease the pressure off the Real Madrid captain who is turning 33 in less than two months.

Trying a different formation

Sadio Mane of Senegal during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group H match between Senegal and Colombia at Samara Arena on June 28, 2018 in Samara, Russia.

(June 27, 2018 - Source: Michael Steele/Getty Images Europe)

It’s all fun and games when a team plays one way and are getting results. We have seen it over the years with Roberto Mancini’s Manchester City that was conservative against its opposition and pounced on the break with some frightening counter-attacking play. Real Madrid have had that aura in them and dispatched teams the Madrid way. But gone are the days when the never changing 4-3-3 formation of the Los Blancos was feared. They have been figured out. Changing formation to a 3-4-3 could prove to be a masterclass. Antonio Conte used it at Chelsea and he has an English Premier League title to show for it. But Madrid cannot use it as they lack the quality at the back. This is where Koulibaly would come in handy. Plug him next to the experienced Ramos and the 2018 World Cup winner, Raphael Varane and no one would dare to attack them in open play. Such is the significance of the Senegalese defender who brings a new dimension not only to the defense but to the style of play for the whole team. I am rooting for his signature.

Add quality in attack

Real Madrid are lacking the quality on the top end of the pitch. That’s evident. Galacticos have always been a solution in times of need for the club and they always will be. Why not make Sadio Mane the next Galactico. I know, I know, not a name on everyone’s minds but hear me out. He’s a player more than capable of carrying the weight of the team on his shoulders. We saw it not long ago. At the biggest stage, Sadio Mane stood up for Liverpool in the 2018 UEFA Champions League final against Real Madrid. He came through with a goal and caused havoc for the reigning European champions. In him, Real Madrid have got a player who beats players, creates and a player who is hungry for success having not won any trophy since moving to Liverpool from Southampton in 2016. Sadio Mane could bring back that fear factor that is lacking from the Spanish giants.

Inspire the new generation

Florentino Perez has made efforts to improve his attack. He has put his faith in the youngsters making noise in the junior age groups and managed to attract them to the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu. We have seen it Vinicius Jr, Brahim Diaz, Marco Asensio, Diaz Mariano and with Rodrigo Rodrigues who is still yet to make his way to the club from Gremio. There has been a lot of hype around these youngsters and we have seen some glimpses of hope in some. However, they have come short whenever they have been called up to task this season. I am sure they probably watched Ronaldo when he was playing and learnt a few lessons. What then do they need? They need another player with influence whom they can pick a few things from. Sadio Mane could come in and do that job. Show them another side of an attacking player capable of putting in the work and press high up the pitch when the team suffers. Bring some new inspiration into the dressing room and maybe, just maybe, Real Madrid could turn their misfortune around.

Get these two and Real Madrid could be revived in no time and forget the loopholes left by Zinedine Zidane and Cristiano Ronaldo’s departures.

Coin Toss: Will Manchester United sack Mourinho to get Zidane?

So far this season, Manchester United have accumulated only 3 points in 3 matches which is one of their slowest starts to the season since 1992. The Red Devils are at rock bottom that they were at 26 years ago, at least according to their standards.

Manager Jose Mourinho consoles Andreas Pereira #15 of Manchester United after the team lost to Liverpool during the International Champions Cup 2018 at Michigan Stadium on July 28, 2018 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Liverpool defeated Manchester United 4-1.

(July 27, 2018 - Source: Jason Miller/Getty Images North America)

This review has led to news that Jose Mourinho may not secure his position as the Red Devils coach for a very long time. Even before we are quick to discard Jose, let us take a brief look at what he had done as a manager. He has amassed a total of 25 cups since the inception of his career in 2003. These include 8 league titles, 13 domestic cups, 2 UEFA Champions League trophies and 2 Uefa Europa League titles. In spite of all these accolades on this manager, his journey with United has not been the smoothest. He has not won any leagues at the red-half of Manchester and he has been recently caught up in a supposed rift with the world cup winner, Paul Pogba. On that, Joleon Lescott a former English professional player was quoted saying, “Man Utd need Paul Pogba more than they need Jose Mourinho, it's sad to say.” He continued to say that the 55 year old has not evolved enough to retain his relevance with young players. All these have raised the stakes for Mourinho’s possible replacement at Man United. It has increased the rumour about former Real Madrid manager, Zinedine Zidane’s possibility to succeed the Portuguese. Let’s evaluate the feasibility of these claims.

Zidane has an amazing track record that can lure a team like Man United that desperately needs to take its place at the top. He has won the Champions’ League with Madrid for 3 times in a row. From April 2016 to April 2017, the club went for 40 games without any taste of a loss. This is definitely an incredible record for any coach. It can be argued that all these Real Madrid wins cannot be accredited to Zidane because any coach can pull that when they have great players like Ronaldo in their team. However, we cannot forget that no one man can win a game on his own. It calls for a great coach to ensure that even a Ronaldo is performing at his best and in perfect sync with other players. Let us also not forget the amount of motivation that a coach needs to give for a team to win. If Zidane was able to pull that off, then definitely, he is an amazing coach that Man U is most likely going to fish.

“Zidane may not be the only coach who is most likely to be seen at the Red Devils, should they choose to part ways with the Special One, but he is currently the one at the top of the list. He seems to be the most needed refresher for the team.”

— Simiso Shabangu, FirstTouch Africa

Manchester City fans hold up signs supporting their manager prior to the Premier League match between Manchester City and Manchester United at Etihad Stadium on April 7, 2018 in Manchester, England.

(April 6, 2018 - Source: Michael Regan/Getty Images Europe)

Secondly, he is younger than Mourinho. He might only be 9 years younger that Mourinho but that’s about 3200 days and that difference could be the differentiator when it comes to how best a coach is able to communicate with his players. As Joleon Lescott alluded to the fact that it is important for a coach to evolve to be more suited for younger players, it is evident that a younger coach might not even need to evolve as he is more likely to be at the same level as his players.

To top it all, Zidane admitted that he wants to go back to coaching. He has declared his undying love for football and said it’s the only thing that he has done all his life and does not want to let let go off. Knowing that the person you want also wants to be in the game could be a huge motivation for United. Half of the conviction has already been done by Zidane himself.

Zidane may not be the only coach who is most likely to be seen at the Red Devils, should they choose to part ways with the Special One, but he is currently the one at the top of the list. He seems to be the most needed refresher for the team.

FT In The Future: Asensio and Richarlison usher in the new generation for Spain and Brazil

“He is really not going to be a Neymar, showboating everywhere or rolling on the floor at times - but a vibrant, aggressive winger who will always find it hard not to be on the score-sheet. With the support of Gabriel Jesus’ goal poaching abilities upfront, Brazil’s future eleven will not be bad at all.”

— Dennis Takaendesa, FirstTouch Africa

Even as the Les Blues party continues and features about Mbappe and his swaggy teammates rocking the World Cup gold spring up exponentially, we are eager to start exploring what is to come. Who are looking to be likely favorites to take a claim at France’s throne? Will the Germans find their feet quickly after a disappointing Russia 2018 campaign? Who are we overlooking as far as nations’ football is concerned? Now, we would love to have answers to all of the above but we don’t. Will most likely not know until we get there. That’s the beauty of football. The unpredictability of the sport. One thing is for sure though, Spain’s Marco Asensio and Brazilian’s Richarlison are looking like they will always be protagonists, wherever they will be. Here and now. Here is why?

They headlined the UEFA Nations League, but its really nothing new…

Richarlison of Everton celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's first goal during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Everton FC at Molineux on August 11, 2018 in Wolverhampton, United Kingdom.

(Aug. 10, 2018 - Source: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images Europe)

Brace-heart Richarlison

The 21-year-old, sure knows how to make a statement. If anyone had thought that his springboard start to life at Everton after a £50 million move from Premier League side, Watford was a fluke, I wonder what they are saying now. The young forward scored a brace against Wolves in his first game in an Everton shirt and has followed suit by doing the same thing in his full Brazilian debut against El Salvador. A beautifully curled right footed shot into the top corner in the first half and a beautifully place left-footed finesse after gathering Coutinho’s spoils in the second half helped ensure Brazil walked away as 5-0 winners. I thought the first goal was immaculate but the second one, no superlative suffices. The half-chance he utilised to make that goal hints at the quality and class of Richarlison. He is really not going to be a Neymar, showboating everywhere or rolling on the floor at times - but a vibrant, aggressive winger who will always find it hard not to be on the score-sheet. With the support of Gabriel Jesus’ goal poaching abilities upfront, Brazil’s future eleven should stay strong.

Cliche Asensio-shots

As for Asensio, not much really need to be said about the 22-year-old Real Madrid forward. It is true that he is earmarked to play a major role in Los Blancos’ attempts to fill Cristiano Ronaldo’s shoes alongside Gareth Bale and Isco, because he’s got the sauce! Asensio opened his Spanish first team account with an Asensio goal, a left-footed drive from the midfield after cheeky leg movements and assisted La Furia Roja’s three other goals in their 6-0 thrashing of the 2018 World Cup finalists, Croatia. He could have had a second, but hit the woodwork instead with a slightly similar shot that the goalkeeper deflected into his own net for an own goal. We have seen this time and time again at Madrid by Asensio and with him looking to be a key figure in the new Spanish choir with Dani Ceballos, Saul Niguez, Odriozola, Kepa and Isco - this won’t be the last time we will write awfully a lot about the Spaniard. Asensio himself is prepared to conquer:

“With Cristiano or without him I have the same aim of having a first team place and being important. So far so good, I have started the season well and I am working well.”

— Marco Asensio, Real Madrid and Spain

Starring roles fine-tune stars

Sergio Ramos of Spain celebrates after scoring his team's fifth goal with Marco Asensio of Spain during the UEFA Nations League A Group four match between Spain and Croatia at Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero on September 11, 2018 in Elche, Spain.

(Sept. 10, 2018 - Source: Denis Doyle/Getty Images Europe)

If there is one thing we have learned about Kylian Mbappe’s rise to stardom, it is simply that giving a young player responsibility makes all the difference. Mbappe was one of the names on the scoresheet in Leornado Jardim’s Monaco side that reached the 2017 UEFA Champions League semi-final at just eighteen. He really got a chance to make and correct a lot of mistakes while at the same time being motivated by the fact that he was doing important work for the team. Unai Emery never hesitated to play him alongside more established names of Neymar and Cavani, even choosing to bench the likes of Di Maria and Julian Draxler and so did Didier Deschamps who even handed him the symbolic number ten shirt at the world cup finals. Well, it’s no secret that Mbappe is an exceptional talent but the faith put in him were not a small matter in growing him.

The good news for Asensio and Richarlison is that even though they are not eighteen like Mbappe, Everton’s Marco Silva does not look like he is going to drop the Brazilian anytime soon and Lopetegui definitely sees Asensio as a key ingredient in his Ronaldo-less Real Madrid. These protagonist roles will inevitably unleash more of what these boys possese.

Onlookers believe

Here is what a few other people in the football world have said about these two:

On Richarlison:

“The little things that he does are a little bit like a young Ronaldo. I’m not saying he can be as good as him but he does special things on the ball that only a few people can do - he drifts past people… if the manager can polish the diamond that’s there then he’s on to something.”

— Jamie Redknapp, SkySports Pundit

On Asensio:

“I already knew him from the Under-21s. I said back in the day that he’s going to be one of the best players in the history of Spanish football and he’s showing this. He has amazing quality and I predict a great season for him.”

— Alvaro Odriozola, Real Madrid and Spanish teammate

FT Hidden Gem Series: Who is Tinotenda Kadewere?

More often than not, people focus on the players that are already known in the most famous leagues in Europe. Not many of us take time to appreciate a rare talent that continues to escape the radar. Look at Jamie Vardy for instance, he shined in England at the age of 28, but who knew about him before then? In this piece, we look at a certain talent from the country of Zimbabwe before he blows up and becomes one of your favorite African players in no time. Here’s what Tinotenda Kadewere is about.

Background

Tino Kadewere was born on the 5th of January in 1996. He started his career at Harare City in the Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League at the age of 18 where he scored 7 goals just halfway into his debut campaign. In 2014, he left Harare City for Djugardens on a loan deal with an obligation to buy him on a 4-year-long deal. It is at the Swedish club that he started to grow not only in terms of his technical abilities but also his physique. Two years down the line, the Zimbabwean striker was a few inches taller and staking a claim for a place in the AFCON games played in Gabon. Although he failed to make an appearance in the tournament, he was inspired by his involvement in the dressing room and he sought to use that experience to push for further success at his club, Djugardens. Tinotenda famously scored 4 goals for Djugardens in a single league match which is a record that had not been matched since 1978. This summer, French Ligue 2 side, Le Havre scooped him from the Swedish team for a fee reported to be in the region of $2.5 million.

Photo: Kenta Jönsson/Bildbryan

On his move

Tinotenda was excited to take the next step in his football career by moving to the French side in July 2018. Who wouldn’t be? This is the country where players like Ronaldinho, Zinedine Zidane, George Weah, Didier Drogba etc. made a name for themselves. This league also worked as a stepping stone for them when they eventually made their big moves to clubs like Real Madrid, Barcelona, AC Milan and Chelsea. This should be very encouraging to the young player who is hungry for success. He said, “It’s good news for me as a footballer to make another step, but it’s also bad news because I don’t know how I will live in France without all these Djurgardens people.” He was obviously emotional about leaving the club that showed faith in him when he was just a teenager and gave him the chance to play European football.

On his attributes

Tino Kadewere’s favorite position is centre forward. He is an Aubameyang-type of a striker who works best on the shoulders of the defense and can use his lethal pace to beat his markers before scoring goals. It is no surprise that he had already scored 8 goals in 12 matches this season with his pace a menace for defenders in the Swedish First Division. His physique has been growing by the years and he no longer looks like someone who could be budged off the ball like many strikers of his age.

Just like many talented players, he is also capable of playing in a number of positions on the pitch. His pace and trickery also warrants him a place on either flanks because Kadewere is confident that he can beat any defender as long as he has the ball in his feet. These attributes are the reasons why he was deployed on the flanks during his High School years. Obviously, he is no Jay Jay Okocha with the ball yet but the sky is the limit for the 22-year-old Zimbabwean. It is easy to see how this type of player can fit in the squads of the big teams around Europe. Real Madrid have one in Lucas Vazquez who comes off the bench as an impact player. Even Arsenal have that in Alex Iwobi who offers something different from the flanks. Maybe Tino could be that for a team like Chelsea in England or Atletico Madrid in Spain.

On his Injury

If you did not know, Tino Kadewere picked up an injury which was later revealed to be internal ligament damage in his left knee. He had this to say about his injury, “It is obviously boring but it is also part of the football at the same time. Now, the only thing that matters to me is to fix this and come back even stronger.” This injury did not scare off interest from Le Havre who still invested in his services despite the fact that the player was facing 8-10 weeks on the sidelines. It is quite rare to find in football that a club pays so much money for a young player let alone someone who is injured. However, they are confident in his ability and potential to become a great player for the club and rightly so. Tino is a player on the rise.

Achievements:

1. The 22-year old guided his old club, FC Djugardens to the 2017/18 Svenska Cupen on the 10th of May, 2018. He scored four of the 14 goals by the club in the tournament. This trophy was the first title for the club since 2013.

2. Kadewere won the COSAFA Cup (a tournament organized by the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations) with his nation on the 9th of June 2018 just a month after lifting a trophy with his club. The young forward scored a brace in the final against Zambia and provided one in a 4-2 victory for the Warriors of Zimbabwe.

Atletico Madrid fire warning shots with Super Cup triumph over Real Madrid

Who is the ‘realest’ in Madrid now? Perhaps Diego Simeone’s men can claim this accolade proudly created by me I suppose. The Europa League champions began the 2018/19 campaign on a high after getting one over the UEFA Champions League holders who also happen to be local rivals with a 4-2 win after extra time in Estonia.

It was the first competitive match for the 13 time European champions in the Cristiano Ronaldo-less and post-Zidane era after the former joined Juventus in the summer whilst the latter seemed to have journeyed to the Middle East or maybe Manchester as we speak. It took less than a minute for Diego Costa to put Atleti ahead with a sublime finish from a tight angle. It was really a half chance but the Spaniard did what he does best, conjuring a goal seemingly out of nothing. Benzema then equalised for Los Blancos in the 27th minute before Captain Ramos deservedly scored from the penalty spot to put the men in white ahead, after a good spell when they seemed to have controlled the match. It had to be that man again, Costa. The 29-year-old finished from close range, 11 minutes from time after an eye-catching movement spearheaded by Juanfran from the right which also caught the eyes of some Real Madrid defenders.

Diego Godin of Atletico Madrid lifts the trophy as Atletico Madrid celebrate victory in the UEFA Super Cup between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid at Lillekula Stadium on August 15, 2018 in Tallinn, Estonia

(Aug. 14, 2018 - Source: Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images Europe)

Things really went from bad to worse for the Bernabeu residents in extra-time. Two great goals from Saul Niguez and Koke put the match beyond Real and perhaps started exposing some ailments of the new Lopetegui era. I saw some high school defending moments by two of the best centre backs in the world, a spineless but Modricfull midfield and many other things that would piss Real fans. It really was surreal and I hope it was just a one day thing for the European Champions. Ronaldo fans are well in their right enjoying an “I told you so moment right now.”

In summary, Real Madrid were not at their best but Atletico were scary good as well. New signing, Thomas Lemar enjoyed a free role on the pitch for Los Rojiblancos and this performance could really be building up to the FirstTouch ‘prophecy.’

Make no mistake, this was definitely a statement to the rest of Europe. Atletico is ready for anyone.

FT French Ligue 1 Preview: PSG must win the UEFA Champions League to keep Neymar

The Brazilian sensation left Barcelona in a bid to step out of Messi’s shadow and achieve his goals of winning the Ballon d’Or at the French giants Paris-Saint Germain. He hoped that the club’s recruitment policy would give him an edge when the tournament commences and that they would be able to recruit the best players who would be able to compete at the highest level. Last season, PSG failed to make it past Real Madrid in the round-of-16. This year, they will have to do better than that if they are to stand a chance to fend off interest from the likes of Real Madrid in keeping their star player at the club. In this feature story, we look at how the club can be able to win the title.

Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid and Neymar of PSG embrace at half time during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 First Leg match between Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain at Bernabeu on February 14, 2018 in Madrid, Spain.

(Feb. 13, 2018 - Source: Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images Europe)

The recruitment of the Italian and Juventus legend, Gianluigi Buffon to beef up their goalkeeper position is nothing but a positive signing for the club. The legend brings his vast amount of experience to a squad that looked out of character when they were dispatched by Real Madrid last year. PSG needed a commanding number 1, and they have got their man who will organise his defence and hopefully prevent the best players in the world from scoring past him. Apart from that, he also brings his winning mentality. Buffon won the last 7 Serie A titles in a row with Juve and is also a 2006 FIFA World Cup winner. He has been around for a long time and knows how to compete. The UEFA Champions League title is a trophy that has eluded him, and he will be as hungry as Neymar to win it this year.

Football is a team sport. Neymar cannot win the trophy on his own. He will need his teammates to bring their A game to the table if they really want him to stay at the Parc des Princes. This means that players like Kylian Mbappe and Edinson Cavani have to bring their World Cup form to Paris and help Neymar push for the title. The former is a teenage sensation who shined at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia but was went hiding when PSG faced Real Madrid in the 2017/18 season. He should be looking to grow from that experience and carry his form into the coming season. Cavani was also at the focal point of Uruguay’s success at the tournament before picking up an injury that kept him out of the squad that was eliminated by France. The whole team has to be at their best this season and play to Neymar’s strengths if they want him to lead them to European glory.

Neymar of Brazil reacts after a missed opportunity during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Quarter Final match between Brazil and Belguim at Kazan Arena on July 6, 2018 in Kazan, Russia.

(July 5, 2018 - Source: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images Europe)

There are rumours that PSG wants to sign N’Golo Kante from Chelsea this season. The 27-year old is a midfield destroyer who has been at the heart of successes of the best teams in recent years. He first led his club Leicester to the EPL title in 2015/16 before winning it again the following year with Chelsea. This year, he was trusted with the defensive responsibilities in the French team that lifted the 2018 FIFA World Cup trophy. N’Golo Kante is famous for stopping Messi, arguably the world’s best player, in his tracks and preventing Argentina from making it to the quarter-final stage. PSG need a player like Kante who could strike a partnership with Marco Verratti in the spine of the French team and protect the backline. Whether the club will actually get to sign him from the English side remains to be seen, but it is clear that they would stand a better chance of winning the most prized asset in European club football if they have the defensive midfielder on their books.

Sometimes a good run in the tournament requires some bit of luck. The draw did not favour the club in the previous season. PSG were unfortunate to face the defending champions in the round-of-16 in the 2017/18 season . This year, they would want to avoid the biggest teams in the tournament at the early stage as they build momentum. However, some argue that you have to beat the best teams in the competition to be called the best. What do you think that PSG has to do to keep Neymar at the club after this season?