Skip to content

Building a starting XI with the €180M Real Madrid could pay for Mbappe

Reuters / Ralph Orlowski Livepic

Following the sales of Alvaro Morata and Danilo, Spanish kingpin Real Madrid certainly has the cash to fund a world-record move for Kylian Mbappe. And why wouldn't it? Club president Florentino Perez has always coveted star power at the Santiago Bernabeu - no matter the cost.

But for almost everyone outside of Madrid's ivory tower, Los Blancos' pursuit of Monaco's 18-year-old prodigy is veering on the ridiculous. Madrid's reported €180-million offer for Mbappe could buy any European club a new team capable of vying for a Champions League spot.

So, theScore proceeded to build a starting XI worth just under €180 million, comprised only of players who made permanent transfers this summer for a fixed fee.

Free transfers weren't considered. All fees are reported or confirmed by respective clubs.

Starting XI

Total cost: €177.7 million

GK - Wojciech Szczesny (€12.2M)

In a world where the cost of goalkeepers continues to rise, Wojciech Szczesny is an attractive and economical option. For around €12 million, Juventus bought a shot-stopper who kept the most clean sheets in Serie A last season.

Teeming with top-flight experience, Szczesny has already played at several big clubs and tournaments, and can offer any Champions League side a reliable presence in goal. He belongs to Europe's second class of 'keepers, but that doesn't make him any less capable.

CB - Mateo Musacchio (€18M)

There is a lot to like about Mateo Musacchio, especially his reasonable price tag. The Argentinian bade his time at Villarreal and earned the respect of his peers with tidy defending and good positioning before joining AC Milan, but for someone entering his prime, €18 million is acceptable to pay. Even if he has a dodgy injury record, Musacchio is a ready-man centre-back who can slot into nearly any lineup.

CB - Federico Fazio (€3.2M)

Long denigrated as a heavy-footed defender, Federico Fazio blossomed into a key protagonist for Roma over the 2016-17 season. He thrived in the middle of a three-man defence, where he could focus on the basics of defending without worrying about any shortcomings in pace and possession.

Roma made Fazio's move to Italy permanent earlier this month for a relative pittance. Considering his improvements at 30 years old, he's worth a punt.

CB - Niklas Sule (€20M)

Now that we have relative veterans in Musacchio and Fazio, it's time to spend a little more on a defender with tonnes of potential. At 21 years old, Niklas Sule already has more than 100 matches of top-flight experience under his belt, as well as six caps with the German national team. He stands 6-foot-5 and possesses the strength to knock opponents off balance.

RWB - Mattia De Sciglio (€12M)

The 3-4-3 formation largely benefits a player like Mattia De Sciglio, who enjoyed some of his best football in a wing-back role with the Italian national team.

A few years ago, De Sciglio would have commanded a fee well above the €12-million mark, but mixed performances at club level curbed his overall value. He still has problems crossing the ball, and pace is not a significant strength, but De Sciglio has the discipline to become a decent player in a more advanced position.

CM - Corentin Tolisso (€41.5M)

The most expensive player in this starting XI is Corentin Tolisso, who cost Bayern Munich a Bundesliga-record €41.5 million. His versatility and box-to-box presence make it difficult not to spend that kind of sum. He can defend and attack in equal measure and make fantastic runs up the pitch. With just two central midfielders in this team, it's important to have someone of Tolisso's all-encompassing ability.

CM - Dani Ceballos (€17M)

If Tolisso is doing the hard work, then Dani Ceballos is the one inspiring his teammates. He is capable of some truly jaw-dropping moments while slaloming his way through the pitch. He ranked third in La Liga last season with an average of 2.7 successful dribbles per match, and earned Player of the Tournament honours at the Under-21 European Championship.

To beat Barcelona to Ceballos' signature, Madrid may have paid a little more than it otherwise would have.

LWB - Ricardo Rodriguez (€18M)

Milan rescued Ricardo Rodriguez from a nightmare at Wolfsburg. Perhaps because of his situation at the club, he cost the Rossoneri a little less than his release clause. He struggled with injury and played out of position, but still left his mark in the Bundesliga as one of the most accurate crossers of the ball. In a more advanced wing-back role, he would have the invitation to unleash his attacking side and make overlapping runs.

RW - Bertrand Traore (€10M)

Although not yet a prolific scorer, Bertrand Traore has the ability to take on defenders and dribble through stonewalls. He is a purchase for the future, but at €10 million, it's hardly a gamble. A year on loan at Ajax did wonders for his nomadic career, giving him a chance to make a permanent move from Chelsea.

Traore can provide the trickery and cut in from the right to release a wicked left-footed shot.

CF - Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez (€17.8M)

There are few genuine poachers in the game quite like Chicharito, who has made a career of his exploits in the six-yard box. Mexico's all-time leading scorer is not quite in the upper echelon of goal-scorers, but he is an accomplished player who has experience with two of the world's biggest clubs, Manchester United and Real Madrid.

LW - Serge Gnabry (€8M)

Serge Gnabry scored a goal every 97 minutes for Werder Bremen last season, by far the best campaign of his burgeoning career. He leveraged his success into a move to Bayern for a relatively modest fee. He is not a traditional No. 9, but a perfect foil for a more straightforward player of Chicharito's ilk.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox