Real Madrid secured their first La Liga and Champions League double since 1958 during Zinedine Zidane’s first full managerial season last term. The Bernabeu outfit fended off the constant threat from Barcelona to lift the La Liga title in the final game of the campaign, while they look unperturbed in their Champions League quest with their 4-1 thumping of Juventus making them the first club to retain the European crown in the modern era.
With all bases covered, Los Blancos’ hierarchy could be forgiven for resting on their laurels during the summer, but this is highly unlikely to be the case with Zidane, who is already plotting his reinforcements for next season. Calcio Insider looks into two potential players, who could make a significant contribution towards Real’s ambition to replicate the feat next season.
Kylian Mbappe – AS Monaco: Just 18, Mbappe has already hit the heights which have earned him global recognition. The youngster is a full international with France following a breakout season where he amassed 26 goals for Monaco. Mbappe has attracted plenty of suitors over the past month, but he could still land at the Bernabeu, should he earn the promise of regular first-team football. The teenager is likely to want to stamp his authority at club level in order to encourage his international hopes and the chance to work with his idol Zidane could trigger a move to the Bernabeu. Monaco ran the Juventus’ defence to parts during the Champions League semi-final last term, and almost every elite club knows the potential of the player, who is dubbed as the new ‘Thierry Henry’.
David de Gea – Manchester United: The Spain international has been associated with the European champions since the summer of 2015, where a delay in the provision of necessary documents pulled the plug on his move. De Gea has since won the PFA Player of the Year accolade in each of the last two seasons but he has yet to extend his contract beyond 2019. Keylor Navas has comfortably settled as Los Blancos’ number one, but De Gea could emerge as the prime target, should Zidane decide to pursue a world-class shot-stopper between now and the transfer deadline. The 26-year-old has single-handedly won games for United in recent seasons, and a move to Madrid could help establish himself as the world’s best ahead of Bayern Munich’s Manuel Neuer.
Image – Getty
