Given the attention that transfers receive in the world of football, and since
the media spotlight often shines on successful deals, it's essential to break
away from the norm and examine the bad ones as well. Therefore, we've
dedicated this article, brought to you by Goal Reader Blog, to explore the
five worst transfers in Real Madrid's history, including a player who made
controversial statements against the club after leaving. Stay tuned.
Danilo
Real Madrid fans unanimously agree that former right-back Danilo is one of the
worst transfers to ever grace the Bernabéu.
Danilo, although he gained some admiration from football fans after leaving
Real Madrid and playing in various leagues around the world, had an utterly
disastrous spell with the club. Perhaps the most infamous moment for Madrid
fans was his own goal against Celta Vigo in the second leg of the 2016-2017
Copa del Rey quarter-finals.
It's worth noting that Danilo left Real Madrid in 2017 for Manchester City,
before moving to Juventus in 2019, where he still plays today. Real Madrid
originally signed him from Porto.
Danilo’s stats with Real Madrid
During his time at Real Madrid, across various competitions, current Juventus
right-back Danilo played in 56 matches, contributing to 12 goals with 3 goals
scored and 9 assists.
Ricardo Kaka
Ricardo Kaka remains one of the most controversial players among Real Madrid
fans, with some considering him one of the worst players to ever don the white
jersey.
A few years ago, Kaka himself spoke about why his time at Real Madrid was a
failure, citing a lack of consistency as the primary reason. He pointed out
that his inconsistency was initially due to injury, followed by the decisions
made by then-coach José Mourinho.
Real Madrid signed Kaka in 2009 from AC Milan, but his time with the club was
disappointing, lasting three years before he ended his career in 2017.
Ricardo Kaka’s stats with Real Madrid
Kaka, who combined the roles of a midfielder and forward, played in 120
matches for Real Madrid, contributing to 68 goals with 29 goals scored and 39
assists.
While these statistics might suggest that Kaká somewhat fulfilled his role,
they never lived up to the expectations of Bernabéu fans, especially
considering his phenomenal performances with Milan before his arrival in
Spain.
Luka Jovic
Not too long ago, Real Madrid signed Serbian striker Luka Jovic from Eintracht
Frankfurt, after he had attracted the interest of many elite European clubs
due to his outstanding performances in the Bundesliga.
However, Jovic's time at Real Madrid was far from successful. He joined the
club in 2019 but left for Fiorentina in 2022 without making a significant
impact.
Luka Jovic’s stats with Real Madrid:
Jovic appeared in 51 matches for Real Madrid, logging 1,563 minutes, during
which he managed to score just 3 goals and provide 5 assists—statistics that
can only be described as catastrophic for a player who was expected to deliver
much more.
Eden Hazard
As we know, Jovic's failure at Real Madrid coincided with an even more
disappointing flop—Eden Hazard's stint with the club.
Hazard, once considered one of the best players of his generation, joined Real
Madrid from Chelsea, where he had showcased outstanding performances. However,
contrasting sharply with his time at Madrid. He left the club and retired from
football altogether in 2023.
Eden Hazard’s stats with Real Madrid
Hazard played in 79 matches for Real Madrid, contributing to just 19 goals,
including 7 goals scored and 12 assists.
Hazard’s statements against Real Madrid:
In 2024, the retired Belgian forward made negative remarks about his
experience at Real, describing the club as "arrogant," a mentality he felt was
not suited for him. He also expressed his dissatisfaction with the team's
playing style compared to other clubs.
James Rodríguez:
Some might be surprised to see Colombian midfielder James Rodríguez on the
list of Real Madrid’s worst transfers, but his underwhelming performances
certainly justify his inclusion.
From our blog as well: The longest winning streaks in history—a Middle Eastern
team tops the list.
In the summer of 2014, following his stellar performances in the Brazil World
Cup, Real Madrid signed James Rodríguez from Monaco. However, after failing to
meet the expectations of the Madrid fans, he left the club for Everton in the
summer of 2020 and is currently playing in La Liga with Rayo Vallecano.
James Rodríguez’s stats with Real Madrid:
The "Coffee Man" James Rodríguez played in 125 matches for Real Madrid,
contributing to 79 goals with 37 goals scored and 42 assists.