Five transfer lessons from Real Madrid’s Champions League win over Man City
Robin Bairner
- Updated: 5 May 2022 10:38 BST
- 4 min read
Real Madrid produced another classic Champions League comeback on Wednesday to defeat Manchester City and move into the final on 28 May.
Los Blancos trailed 5-3 on aggregate going into the final minute of the tie, yet two goals from Rodrygo somehow forced extra-time. Karim Benzema netted a penalty in that additional period to secure victory for the Spaniards.
It was the third time in succession that Madrid had produced an incredible comeback in the knockout phase of the competition and also marked an embarrassing exit for City, who are still fighting to claim a first Champions League title.
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Here are five transfer lessons we learned from the enthralling encounter, which could shape the direction of future markets:
Man City punished for their lack of centre forward
Manchester City were caught in the embarrassing position of having spent more than a €1 billion since the arrival of Pep Guardiola but being forced to use Aymeric Laporte as a makeshift centre forward as they fought to get back into the game after falling behind. Given the riches they have spent, to not have a more orthodox option was, frankly, ridiculous.
Of course, the arrival of Erling Haaland in the summer should act as a remedy and City should be better prepared next season – but there is no excuse for them being so woefully understaffed this time around given their lavish spending.
Camavinga will be the signing of 2021
Eduardo Camavinga’s progress over the last 18 months has not been linear, with the teenager having apparently struggled with transfer speculation in the lead up to his move to Real Madrid from Rennes. Even when he arrived in Spain, he made a quick start before fading into the background again.
It has been in the Champions League that he has become a man. In each of Madrid’s knockout ties, Ancelotti has called upon the France international from the bench when things were looking desperate, and he has delivered.
Camavinga’s signing may not have had the initial impact of some, but he is well on course to fulfilling his potential as a superstar of tomorrow. He has already proven himself to be a star of today.
Grealish fails when City needed him most
Jack Grealish was Manchester City’s marquee signing last summer, with the club investing more than £100m to sign him from Aston Villa. The English winger has failed to deliver.
Twice he had opportunities to put the tie to bed, but twice he failed. True, he might only have been the length of Thibaut Courtois’ stud from putting City into the final, but as one of the most expensive players of all time, he has to be held to a standard higher than the norm.
Five goals and three assists in 36 appearances is not good enough.
How can Mbappe turn Real Madrid down now?
If there was any doubt over the future of Kylian Mbappe, whose contract expires at PSG this summer, it is surely over now.
The World Cup winner has grown dissatisfied with the infighting at Parc des Princes, the squabbles over who is the most important player. Instead, Real Madrid seem to have everything he wants.
The spirit of the team seems to be irresistible, the mentality in direct opposition to what is evident at PSG.
Man City can’t buy what Madrid have
Carlo Ancelotti admitted after the tie that history played a large part in Real Madrid’s remarkable qualification. There is not a club in the world that has won the Champions League as often as Los Blancos, who are chasing their 14th title in Paris.
Their past has given them a bulletproof mentality. It was evident as they defeated PSG in the last 16 and was obvious again as they beat City. Madrid are just different when it comes to the Champions League – and these ‘new money’ clubs simply do not have the same psychological belief when it comes to the crunch.
