Only Cristiano Ronaldo has scored more goals for Real Madrid than Karim Benzema. The French striker was an icon in all-white and was the focal point of Carlo Ancelotti’s team, even winning the Ballon d’Or last year. This is why Benzema’s departure to join Al Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League was so surprising. Nobody saw it coming, not least Real Madrid.
Ancelotti admitted in the days following Benzema’s exit that the Spanish club would have to step up a succession plan they had no intention of implementing this summer. Until a week before the 35-year-old left for Saudi Arabia, the assumption was that he’d sign a contract extension to stay at the Santiago Bernabeu. Instead, Los Blancos must find a new number nine.
At the time of writing, it’s not clear how Real Madrid plan on replacing Benzema. Kylian Mbappe remains a long-term target, but getting the French international out of Paris Saint-Germain this summer might prove too challenging. After spending €100m on Jude Bellingham, Real Madrid might not have another €200m to lump on Mbappe.
Even if Mbappe could be signed this summer, he would be an awkward fit for Ancelotti’s team. Benzema was much more than just a number nine for Real Madrid. He was a creator and a conductor in the final third. Mbappe is world class in his own way, but he plays the game in a very different way.
On top of this, Mbappe has publicly complained about having to play as a centre forward for France, instead preferring to play on the left wing where he can cut inside. Real Madrid already have Vinicius Junior to do this, though. How would Ancelotti play Mbappe and Vinicius in the same lineup?
Mbappe will be out of contract at PSG next summer with the 24-year-old also making clear his desire to leave. The most sensible thing for Real Madrid to do, if they are still determined to sign their top target, is to hold tight and wait for Mbappe to become available as a free agent. They’ll still need a centre forward to hold them over until then, though.
Joselu has returned to the Santiago Bernabeu 11 years after he left Real Madrid. The 33-year-old has proven himself as a reliable goal-scorer for the likes of Alaves and Espanyol in La Liga and is a solid addition to Ancelotti’s squad. Few see Joselu as good enough to be Real Madrid’s starting centre forward, though, even if only for a season.
Harry Kane, Victor Osimhen and Lautaro Martinez have all been linked with Real Madrid this summer, but none of them would be cheap. Inter reportedly want €70m for Martinez, but Kane and Osimhen would cost over €100m. With Real Madrid spending around €1 billion to redevelop their stadium, that sort of money might not be available.
Rodrygo could be deployed through the middle, as he was on occasion last season when Benzema was injured or in need of a rest, but the Brazilian is most effective on the right wing. If Rodrygo and Vinicius are now Real Madrid’s most reliable difference-makers, it would be foolish to make one of them compromise on their position.
Roberto Firmino could be an interesting option. The Brazilian is still a free agent having left Liverpool at the end of last season and appears to be holding out on making a decision on his next club despite holding offers from Atletico Madrid, St Louis City in Major League Soccer and a number of Saudi clubs.
At 31, Firmino is entering the twilight of his career, but he still has a lot to offer. He reached double figures for goals in the Premier League last season and his ability to drop deep and create space in behind is similar to the quality boasted by Benzema. As stop-gap solutions go, Firmino would be an excellent one.
Real Madrid are in the midst of a generational transition. They have focused their attention on signing players like Bellingham, Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga in recent transfer windows with others like Fede Valverde, Eder Militao and Fran Garcia seen as a big part of Los Blancos’ future.
It might be the case that Ancelotti himself is part of this generational transition with the 64-year-old strongly linked with the Brazilian national team job. Benzema’s exit might not have been planned, but it will almost certainly accelerate the transition too. How Real Madrid respond this summer will provide an indication of the team they want to become.
