Top 10 most outstanding contracts of Real Madrid in the winter transfer period

Coach Carlo Ancelotti once affirmed that Real Madrid will not shop during the winter transfer window. But Lucas Vazquez's latest injury may change Madrid's mind, even though the mid-season market once brought them not only joy but also disappointment. Let's take a look at Real's 10 most memorable winter contracts.

#1 MARCELO

Marcelo is one of three young South American talents bought by Real Madrid in January 2007. Compared to Fernando Gago and Gonzalo Higuain, the Brazilian left-back is a much more modest name. But it was not the Argentine duo, but the contract from Fluminense that was Los Blancos' most successful deal. With 546 matches and 25 titles in 16 seasons, including 6 La Liga championships and 5 Champions League silver cups, Marcelo has become a legend of the Bernabeu.

#2 CASEMIRO

The Brazilian midfielder was loaned by Real Madrid from Sao Paulo on the last day of the transfer window in January 2013, but to strengthen the Castilla team. After an impressive half of the 2012/13 season and also making his debut for the first team, Casemiro was bought permanently for 6 million euros. However, it was not until he returned after a "training" season in 2014/15 at Porto that Casemiro took an official position and even became an indispensable piece in the midfield.

#3 CHRISTIAN PANUCCI

Christian Panucci became the first Italian player to play for Real Madrid in January 1996, at the invitation of former AC Milan coach Fabio Capello. And although he joined in the middle of the season, he quickly pushed Carlos Secretario to the bench to take the right-back position. At that time, Los Blancos owned a formidable pair of wings with Panucci on the right and Roberto Carlos on the left. The Italian international has won four titles in the white shirt, culminating in the Champions League championship in the 1997/98 season.

#4 GONZALO HIGUAIN

Higuain arrived at the Bernabeu in January 2007 along with Marcelo and Fernando Gago. And although his fate was better than that of his fellow midfielder, he could not become a legend like the Brazilian defender. Because this striker joined Real Madrid during the period when the team struggled to find glory in the Champions League, when they were continuously eliminated in the second round. However, in 7 seasons with Los Blancos, Higuain still managed to keep up. Collects 6 trophies, including 3 La Liga championships.

#5 ANTONIO CASSANO

Fully 10 years after bringing Panucci to Real Madrid in January 1996, coach Fabio Capello recruited a compatriot for his second term to lead the team, in the winter of 2006. Unfortunately, Antonio Cassano is far from comparable. equal to his seniors in terms of professionalism. The Italian football prodigy gained weight too quickly and conflicted with Capello himself, demanding to return to Roma and only scoring 1 goal in 7 appearances in La Liga.

#6 MARTIN ODEGAARD

Martin Odegaard is currently the captain and conductor of Arsenal. But this midfielder was also considered a failed winter contract for Real Madrid. Odegaard emerged very early and to get the Norwegian prodigy in January 2015, Los Blancos had to defeat Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Arsenal. However, the boy, who was not yet 17 years old at that time, could not cope with the pressure. After 2 seasons playing for team B, he was promoted to the first team but was loaned everywhere, before being bought permanently by Arsenal in 2021.

#7 THOMAS GRAVESEN

Thomas Gravesen is one of Real Madrid's strangest winter contracts. Because his clumsy technique and aggressive playing style are completely opposite to the style of the Spanish Royal team. Brought in in January 2005 to fill the defensive midfielder position, the Danish player actually got off to a good start. But then, he was dropped from the official squad, had to leave at the end of the season and put his name on the list of Real Madrid's worst deals of the 21st century.

#8 CHRISTIAN KAREMBEU

Christian Karembeu arrived at the Bernabeu in January 1998 from Sampdoria, after a long time choosing between Real Madrid and Barca. The French midfielder immediately experienced a memorable year in 1998, winning the World Cup with Les Bleus, and winning the Champions League in the 1997/98 season with Los Blancos. Karembeu is not a prominent name in the Real Madrid squad, but always plays at least at a decent level. And two years after his first Champions League title, he won another elephant ear trophy with Real Madrid in the 1999/2000 season.

#9 KLAAS-JAN HUNTELAAR

In January 2009, former Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon made a strange deal. He spent 20 million euros to recruit Klaas-Jan Huntelaar from Ajax, but then realized he could not register this striker on the Champions League list. The Dutch striker only stayed at the Bernabeu for half a season, and scored 8 goals in 20 appearances. In the summer of 2009, Real Madrid sold Huntelaar to AC Milan for 17.75 million euros, accepting a loss of 2.25 million euros.

#10 LUCAS SILVA

Before success with Vinicius and Rodrygo, Real Madrid once failed with another young Brazilian talent. That is Lucas Silva, the promising midfielder they bought from Cruzeiro for 14 million euros in January 2015, and signed a 5 and a half year contract. Silva debuted a month later in the match against Deportivo, but this was also one of the few times he played for Real Madrid. In the following seasons, he was sent to Marseille and Cruzeiro on loan, before liquidating the contract in September 2019.