Real Madrid shown their summer transfer priority in Man City rout

Jacque Talbot

• Updated: 23 May 2023 08:37 CDT
• 3 min read

Real Madrid showed just how much they need a left-back following their 4-0 loss to Manchester City in the Champions League semi-finals.

The Premier League side were ruthless throughout the second-leg encounter at the Etihad.

They attacked the right-hand side of Los Blancos, with Eduardo Camavinga being caught out constantly by City's Bernardo Silva.

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The Portgual international found two goals, successfully probing that flank.

Camavinga was bought as a central midfielder, but Carlo Ancelotti has been using him as a makeshift left-back. It has worked on occasion, but against the Citizens, the Frenchman really showed his limitations in that position.

Real have been linked with a move for Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe, but money would surely be better spent elsewhere for the club.

The reigning Champions League title-holders looked toothless against Man City - their defence utterly shellshocked as the English side hit them for four goals to win on a 5-1 aggregate score.

It means that the final in Istanbul is set up to be Man City against Inter Milan, who defeated local rivals AC Milan in the semi-finals.

Next treble winners

City are still yet to win a Champions League, having missed the title two years ago against Chelsea. They are the firm favourites this time around, and there is a feeling of inevitability about this upcoming contest. With the Premier League in sight and a final in the FA Cup final to look forward to, Pep Guardiola's side could well be the 10th team to win the Treble, with the last English club to do so being Manchester United in the 1998/1999 season under Sir Alex Ferguson.

Red Devils legend Rio Ferdinand admitted after the game, while on pundit duty for BT Sport, that Guardiola had texted him full of confidence. Ferdinand said: "Pep Guardiola texted me today saying, 'Believe me, we'll beat them'... The confidence to say that two or three hours before the game!"