Football: the top 10 of Real Madrid's best signings from 2010 to 2020

Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Kaka, Xabi Alonso,… We all remember that famous transfer window of 2009 orchestrated by Florentino Perez and which allowed the glory years of Real Madrid over the last decade. From 2010 to 2020, Casa Blanca completely dominated European Football by winning 4 Champions Leagues. Just amazing! Especially when you see a club like PSG having so much trouble lifting only one. Nevertheless, these coronations are also explained by his very intelligent recruitment throughout this decade. Discover the top 10 arrivals (during this period):

10 – Ferland Mendy (2019)

Arrived from Olympique Lyonnais for 48 million + 5 million euros, Ferland Mendy has completely imposed himself at the Merengues. He had the difficult task of compensating for Marcelo, who is gradually approaching retirement. In the space of a few months, the native of Meulan has become a questionable holder at the position of left-back. He confided that he had progressed a lot thanks to the advice of the Brazilian. He is a superb recruit for the real, because Mendy is very solid, very versatile and continues to improve over the weeks. At only 25 years old, Ferland is a player Real Madrid want to keep at all costs in the coming years. It will surely eventually become a real framework.

9- Gareth Bale (2013)

On 1 September 2013, Gareth Bale signed a six-year contract with Real Madrid for €101 million , making him the most expensive transfer in football history at the time. As soon as he arrived, during the 2013-2014 season, thanks to his friends Benzema and Ronaldo, the Welshman put everyone in agreement. 22 goals and 19 assists in all competitions. Before he experienced his first injuries, the Madrid number 11 was a major asset. We all remember his sprint to score in the Copa del Rey final against FC Barcelona or his double in the LDC final against Liverpool with his famous bicycle. His last years at Casa Blanca are less glorious, he played very little, very little was decisive. So he was loaned last summer to his former club, Spurs, where he currently lives.

8- Dani Carvajal (2013)

The Spanish is one of the best recruits in terms of value for money. Indeed, Pérez went to Bayer Lerverkusen in 2013 for only 6.5 million euros. A hell of a pickaxe! Especially since Carvajal has become a reference in his right-back position and a manager of the Madrid dressing room. Real Madrid's heyday over the last decade is partly thanks to him and his full-backs Marcelo. An indisputable starter during all these years, he is a very complete player, both solid, good defender, intelligent and a technique that allows him to move forward. Unfortunately, in recent years, he has been heavily impacted by repeated injuries. At 29, Carvajal still has a few years ahead of him at this club.

7- Mesut Özil (2010)

Revelation of the South African World Cup with the German selection, the playmaker had Europe at his feet at the beginning of the last decade. While he dreamed at first of Guardiola's Barca. In the end, it was Jose Mourinho's Real that proved the most convincing. Ozil arrived for €27 million from Werder Bremen. At Real Madrid, he impressed with his talent and more than average vision of the game . In three seasons at Real, the German midfielder played 159 games for 27 goals and 80 assists. Left for Arsenal for 47 million euros in 2013, he was supposed to symbolize the renewal of the Gunners on the European scene but was caught up by his irregularity and physical decline over the seasons. He confessed to having regrets about his departure from the Spanish capital.

6- Angel Di Maria (2010)

It is the first purchase of the Madrid club under the Mourinho era. The Argentina international was 22 years old and coming off a very big season with Benfica, where he was named best player in the Portuguese league. Arrived for 27 million, the real has high hopes on Di Maria. It is at the White House that "el fideo" explodes by showing all his talent in world football. He was indispensable to Mourinho's tactical scheme where he was the distributor with Özil. After a huge 2013-2014 season, the consecration for Angel is his Champions League final against neighbors Madrid. An exceptional match that allows him to win the cup with big ears. This season he was the best passer in La Liga and Champions League with respectively 17 and 7 assists to his name. After his lost World Cup final and the arrivals of Toni Kroos and James Rodríguez, Angel Di María committed in 2014 for five years to Manchester United against a check of 75 million euros.

5- Raphaël Varane (2011)

This is undoubtedly one of the best strokes of genius on the part of Real Madrid's recruiters. Coveted by Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid, Raphaël Varane chose to join the Spanish club in the summer of 2011 from RC Lens. For only €10 million ! It was Zinedine Zidane himself who went to get him. He advised Jose Mourinho to launch him into the deep end. During the 2011–2012 season, the native of Lille took advantage of the injuries of some starters to wear the jersey of the Merengues, showing all his qualities. It is in this club, alongside Ramos and Pepe, that he has evolved and progressed to have the level he has today. For several years now, French has been acadre and an indisputable holder. He is one of the major players in Madrid's European dominance over the last decade.

4- Toni Kroos (2014)

After an impressive World Cup in Brazil, and a coronation at the end, Toni Kroos leaves Bayern Munich and commits for six years with Real Madrid for 25 million euros. As soon as he arrived, Zinedine Zidane installed him in the midfield as a starter and leading player. With his midfield mates Modríc and Casemiro, he has improved Real Madrid's game over the years and continues to do so now. He is one of the hubs, the one who dictates the rhythm of the match. Madrid's number 8 is obviously one of the major players in the historic treble in the Champions League. His game intelligence, his vision of the game, his quality on set pieces or his excellent passing game have brought a lot to Zizou's tactical scheme. At 31 years old, we see him finish his career in a few years in this club that he loves so much.

3- Casemiro (2013)

On 31 January 2013, Casemiro was loaned to the club until June 2013, with an option to buy. However, he plays with the B team. On 11 June 2013, the Madrid management lifted the purchase option and recruited the player. The transfer is valued at €6 million. But what a pickaxe! Indeed, the Brazilian Casemiro is one of the most important players of Real Madrid over the last decade. It is once again thanks to Zidane that Casemiro has imposed himself in this squad. The Real Madrid defensive midfielder and member of the Brazilian national team is the perfect teammate, the one every player dreams of having by his side on the pitch. His sense of placement, his combativeness, his interceptions all the time can relieve a whole team. It is in a way the cog that allows the entire engine to work. Casemiro is an executive of this club and at 29 years old he still has a lot of services to render at Casa Blanca.

2- Luka Modríc (2012)

On 27 August 2012, after long months of negotiations, Luka Modrić signed for the club. He arrives from Spurs for a check of 35 million euros and 7 million euros in bonuses. Whether under the Ancelotti era or Zidane, he became a fundamental part of the Madrid squad. With Real Madrid, he won the Champions League and the Club World Cup 4 times in 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018. He's a huge rookie both in terms of his level of play and price. 35 million for a Modríc is a robbery, especially when you see the current transfer prices. He is the last element of the magic trio with Kroos and Casemiro. The Croatian is so important in the Madrid game thanks to his extraordinary technique, his intelligence of play worthy of the greatest or his vision of play to name only these qualities. Well, of course, it was in the jersey of Real that he won the Ballon d'Or in 2018.

1- Keylor Navas (2014)

And the number 1 spot for the best rookie is awarded to goalkeeper Keylor Navas. Indeed, he deserves it given the price of recruitment, his huge contribution to the club, and his succession to the legend Iker Casillas. He was also very little known in world football before he shone at the real. On 3 August 2014, the Madrid management activated Navas' release clause set at 10 million euros. During these years at the real, he was monstrous, heroic especially in the Champions League. He is undoubtedly one of the main players in the 3 consecutive victories in 2016, 2017 and 2018. Thanks to his enormous goalkeeping skills, he notably set a new record for the club, conceding no goals in his first eight appearances in the LDC. He was truly the savior with this position of last rampart. The Costa Rican goalkeeper leaves the White House for €15 million to PSG.