Alexander-Arnold next? Real Madrid’s best ever free transfers | OneFootball

Real Madrid are understood to be nearing an agreement to sign Trent Alexander-Arnold on a free transfer from Liverpool.

The Spanish side are famed for their extravagant Galactico signings but in recent years have completed some brilliant Bosman business. Several free transfer signings have been huge hits at the Bernabeu and we’ve decided to look back at some of the club’s finest.

Here are Real Madrid’s best ever free transfers

Bernd Schuster (1988)

Crossing the El Clásico divide can be dubbed a cardinal sin but that’s exactly what Bernd Schuster did in 1988. The German had shone across eight seasons at Barcelona, lifting the La Liga title, European Cup Winners’ Cup and a hat-trick of Copa del Rey trophies among his honours.

However, he crossed to the capital and helped Real Madrid cement their status as Spain’s top team. Schuster won back-to-back La Liga titles with Los Blancos, who extended their record to five Spanish crowns on the spin.

After just two seasons he moved on, signing for Atletico Madrid on another free transfer.

In 2007, he returned to Real Madrid as head coach and led the side to another La Liga title.

Steve McManaman (1999)

The Bosman ruling in the mid-nineties forever changed football transfers and shifted the power to players when it came to transfer negotiations.

Steve McManaman opted against extending at Liverpool in favour of securing a free transfer move to Real Madrid in 1999. Frustrated with Liverpool’s lack of honours, the trophies the winger craved arrived in abundance at the Bernabeu.

McManaman’s debut season ended with Champions League success, with ‘El Macca’ scoring a stunning scissor-kick goal in the final win over Valencia in Paris. Despite the arrival of the club’s Galactico signings, McManaman remained a key part of the culture and a popular figure in the Spanish capital.

He spent four seasons with Real Madrid, where his achievements included becoming the first E nglish player to win the Champions League with a non-English club, and the first English player to win the competition twice.

David Alaba (2021)

After winning every possible honour during a career spanning over a decade with Bayern Munich, David Alaba decide on a new challenge in 2021.

The Austria international signed for Real Madrid on a free transfer. arriving as a replacement for the outgoing Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane. His first season ended in success, as the Spaniards won a La Liga and Champions League double. He won both honours again in 2023/24 and has racked up over a century of appearances for Los Blancos.

Antonio Rudiger (2022)

Real Madrid moved to snap up Antonio Rudiger as his Chelsea contract came to an end in 2022.

The Germany international had impressed in the Premier League and helped Chelsea to Champions League success in 2021. Since moving to the Bernabeu, Rudiger has grown from top-class defender to genuinely elite.

Arguably one of the best in world football, he was crucial to the club’s La Liga and Champions League double in 2023/24. In the absence of several defensive absentees, Rudiger marshalled the Madrid backline superbly.

Kylian Mbappe (2024)

A transfer that could perhaps become the most prominent free transfer signing of all time.

After a long saga saw the Spaniards repeatedly try and fail to prise Mbappe from PSG in recent years, the Spaniards finally got their man in 2024.

Signing arguably the world’s best footballer on a free transfer is some statement and Mbappe has lived up to that billing during his debut campaign. After a mixed start, he’s exploded in recent months and has netted 31 goals in 44 appearances across all competitions.

The French forward won a wealth of honours at Paris Saint-Germain, but European success proved to be elusive. He’s in the right environment now for a maiden Champions League title.

Read – Five potential replacements for Trent Alexander-Arnold at Liverpool

See more – The 10 best defensive midfielders in the world right now

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