Hakimi, Theo and five recent transfer sales Real Madrid regret

Martin Macdonald

• 14 Apr 2022 04:56 CDT
• 4 min read

Real Madrid are always one of the most active clubs in the transfer market whether it be acquiring players for big money or moving unwanted stars on to other clubs.

For a squad the size as it usually is at Santiago Bernabeu, there is often a need to trim the fat at the end of the season, and that is exactly what will happen in 2022, with the likes of Gareth Bale, Isco and Eden Hazard expected to be moved on.

Los Blancos don't always get these decisions right, however, as some players have left to perform at a higher level than those still at the club.

Cristiano Ronaldo is a notable omission from our list of Real Madrid transfer regrets, but the deal to sell a player in his mid 30s for so much money at the time was a good one, while his departure allowed Karim Benzema to become the best number nine in the world.

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The following players, though, Real Madrid should regret moving on.

Achraf Hakimi (To Inter)

Achraf Hakimi was allowed to leave in 2020 for a fee of around €40 million to Inter after an impressive spell at Borussia Dortmund. While in Serie A, the Morocco international excelled, scoring seven goals from 37 league outings as he helped the club to win the domestic title.

Paris Saint-Germain’s interest was sufficiently piqued to make a €60m move for Hakimi in the summer and they are now the club reaping the rewards of his offensive excellence.

There appears to be no way back for Hakimi to Madrid, the city he was born. Real toyed with him for a couple of years without ever properly exploiting him and even after two convincing loan spells at Dortmund, he was not given a proper chance.

Theo Hernandez (To Milan)

Real Madrid have issues in both full-back positions currently, as although Dani Carvajal remains solid, his back up, Lucas Vazquez, is a converted winger.

Ferland Mendy and Marcelo on the other side are probably not elite level, either, with the latter likely to leave this summer.

Following a loan spell at Real Sociedad, Theo Hernandez was sold to Milan and he has developed into one of the most swashbucklingly effective left-backs in the world.

In three seasons with Milan so far, he has an impressive return of 17 goals and 13 assists in Serie A.

Sergio Reguilon (To Tottenham)

Like with fellow left-back, Theo, Sergio Reguilon was allowed to leave Real Madrid without being given much of a chance.

This is probably a more baffling decision from Madrid, too, as Reguilon was one of the best full-backs in La Liga while on loan at Sevilla.

The club decided to cash-in and sell him to Tottenham, clearly happy with the options of Mendy and Marcelo.

Another one that has proven to be a mistake as Reguilon would slot nicely into the team at the moment.

Marcos Llorente (To Atletico Madrid)

Marcos Llorente left Real Madrid for rivals Atletico Madrid and eventually helped Los Colchoneros beat Los Blancos to the league title in 2020/21.

In that title-winning season he was sensational, scoring 12 goals and recording 11 assists in La Liga.

His numbers have fallen off a cliff in the current season, but he remains a trusted lieutenant of Diego Simeone.

Crucially, he can play in a number of positions with ease and that would certainly be of use to Madrid.

He would certainly be an upgrade on the likes of Isco and Dani Ceballos.

Mateo Kovacic (To Chelsea)

Real Madrid are blessed with an impressive midfield roster including Luka Modric, Casemiro, Toni Kroos, Ernesto Valverde and Eduardo Camavinga.

The decision to loan and then sell Mateo Kovacic to Chelsea probably seemed like the correct one at the time as the Croatian never really found top form in Spain.

However, he has developed into a fabulous midfielder and in the Champions League this week as Real Madrid actually faced Chelsea, he was fantastic as he ran Madrid ragged with his movement and dribbling ability in the middle of the pitch.

It is probably a stretch to say Madrid regret this one, but they don't have a player like him.