Can Real Madrid improve on last season?

Real Madrid blew everybody out the water in Spain last season, including the previously imperious Barcelona.

They haven’t yet made a splash in the transfer market this summer, but according to Real boss Jose Mourinho his squad is ‘almost complete’ ahead of the new season.

Linked

Madrid have been heavily linked with a move for Tottenham midfielder Luka Modric.

The Croatian international has acknowledged that he wants to leave White Hart Lane this summer. If reports are to be believed Spurs will demand £40million for the talented midfielder.

Games

Modric would be a good addition to the Real squad, but it’s hard to see where he would fit into the Real team. He wouldn’t have guaranteed regular first team football and I don’t believe he will be happy sitting in the Bernabeu dugout.

Modric will be competing against the likes of Xabi Alonso, Sami Khedira and Mesut Ozil for a place in the Real team this season.

Exits?

One issue that might make it easier for Modric to play is the likely departures of fellow midfielders Kaka and Nuri Sahin. Former-World Player of the Year Kaka hasn’t quite found his best form in Madrid and is looking to move on this summer.

Sahin was only signed from Dortmund last summer, but has failed to make the breakthrough into the Real first team. Sahin is being linked with a season-long loan move to the Premier League with Arsenal.

Both players are talented, but have found playing time hard to come by at the Bernabeu. Kaka has been linked with a return to Italy with AC Milan, but the Rossoneri have stated that he is out of their financial reach. He was also linked with a move to mega-rich French club PSG.

The French club’s boss Carlo Ancelotti revealed yesterday that they have finished their spending for the summer and he won’t be adding anymore players to his squad. Kaka is now in limbo.

Champions

Last season Real Madrid were crowned champions for the first time in four seasons. Barcelona had dominated La Liga and won the previous three titles. In the last campaign though Real were simply majestic.

Not even the great Barcelona could stop them from claiming the title. Records were beaten and wrongs were put right by Los Blancos. The old enemy Barcelona just couldn’t keep up with the young vibrant Real side.

The current Real Madrid team are a young side and should they stay together could dominant the Spanish league for along time. However, they can’t afford to rest on their laurels with Barcelona breathing down their necks.

Hurting

Barcelona will be hurting from last season and I believe they will come back this season even more determined to win the big trophies. The change of boss has been painless, as Tito Villanova has been with the club for a long time and the players know him well.

Real will have to be at their best to keep Barcelona from usurping them again next season. Barcelona still have the quality to cause Los Blancos problems and will do everything in their power to claim back their place at the top of the Spanish football tree.

Threat

In the new season Real Madrid will no doubt be a big threat in La Liga and the Champions League. They haven’t been given enough credit for what they achieved last season, mainly because they didn’t win the Champions League.

The Spanish media and people don’t seem to consider a team great until they have won the Champions League. Great Real Madrid teams have done it in the past. It’s now time for this generation to prove that they are up there with the best of them.

I really wouldn’t bet against Real Madrid claiming the double of La Liga and Champions League crown this season. Jose Mourinho has turned a group of superb individuals into a superb team and they will be very difficult to stop this season

It will be very difficult for Los Blancos to improve from last season, but they certainly have it in their locker. If they do manage to improve from last season, then fans of La Liga and the Champions are in for a real treat this season.

Can Real Madrid improve on last season?