Usually, when a player signs for Real Madrid, they’re likely to be among the very best in the world at that time. For Zinedine Zidane, however, one player he urged the club to sign in the past was a rather low profile target.
From the Galacticos era of old, to the modern superstars turning out for Real Madrid, you’d be hard-pressed to find players in the history books of Los Blancos who didn’t cost a pretty penny, be it in transfer fees or big wages.
Their latest acquisition, Kylian Mbappe, for example, cost absolutely nothing to sign, but his annual earnings could reach up to £60m. Meanwhile, in the past Madrid have splashed the cash on the likes of Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo, and even Zidane himself.
It doesn’t always have to be that way, of course. Sometimes, regardless of price, a signing just makes sense. For Zidane, such a signing presented itself that he felt Madrid should have snapped up, but the club ignored his advice.
As per a report from DefensaCentral, it is suggested Youri Tielemans was on Zidane’s wishlist before he signed for Aston Villa. The Beglian midfielder was available on a free transfer when he was relegated with Leicester City in the 2022/23 season.
Apparently, Zidane saw Tielemans as a good fit for Madrid, but Florentino Pérez declined the opportunity.
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Such a signing was seen to fit the more modern approach Madrid have taken, steering away from signing established, world class talent by and large, and focusing more on younger prospects who have room to develop.
The likes of Vinicius Jr, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Eduardo Camavinga, Federio Valverde, and Rodrygo all arrived at the Bernabeu with plenty of promise, and while they weren’t exactly cheap, they didn’t break the bank for Madrid.
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Where Tielemans could have fit into that incredible midfield the La Liga giants now boast is unclear.
However, he has flourished at Villa Park under Unai Emery, and has four goal contributions to his name already this season.
There’s every chance that Tielemans’ career is actually in a better place now than if he had made that switch to Madrid as Zidane had hoped.