Real Madrid better with Joselu than Benzema, claims Ancelotti

Stuart Telford

• 21 Jul 2023 20:56 BST
• 3 min read

Carlo Ancelotti insists Real Madrid will be a better team next season despite replacing Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema with Stoke reject Joselu.

Benzema left on a free transfer to Al-Ittihad in June, agreeing terms on a deal worth €100 million a season an leaving a gaping hole in the record European champions' attack.

Real are favourites to sign PSG superstar Kylian Mbappe on a free next summer, when they will also welcome Brazilian prodigy Endrick from Palmeiras, but for the time being they have settled on Joselu to lead their line.

READ: Why Mbappe has NO intention of joining Real Madrid this summer

Joselu only managed four goals in 22 Premier League games for Stoke in the 2015/16 season, but he has had a late career bounce, and Real were delighted to sign him on loan from Espanyol with an option to buy at the end of last season.

Bellingham leads busy summer in Madrid

As well as beating Liverpool to the signing of Borussia Dortmund's Jude Bellingham, los Blancos have also acquired Turkish prodigy Arda Guler from Fenerbahce and their former left-back Fran Garcia from Rayo Vallecano.

Ancelotti is convinced the Spanish and European champions from 2022 can get back to the top of the game with the new arrivals, whilst pointing out where Joselu is better than Benzema.

READ: Bellingham's Real Madrid signing inspired by Zidane

"We're very happy," the Italian told Marca. "The new arrivals improve the quality of the squad. Fran Garcia improves the left side, where we had problems last season. With Joselu we win more in the air in the opposition area, where we also suffered.

"Guler is very talented. He's very young and I think the fans are going to enjoy him. Bellingham is a great midfielder with something we were missing: the ability to arrive in the box. The squad's improved. I want to try something new. If it doesn't work out, we have the old system, which gave us so much success."