Throw The Checkbook | 30 December 2025

The Daily Merengue is a place where you can feel free to d all things football. Do not be alarmed by the overt RMCF bias. It’s in the name! Shoutout to the mods who do a fantastic job, Ezek, Valyrian Steel, Felipejack, Juninho, NeRObutBlanco and yours truly, Kung_Fu_Zizou

Real Madrid can safely say goodbye to what is a typical down period after a successful run. Nobody enjoys these periods of panic and low morale. Yet we’ve been around long enough to know.. Asi Asi Asi Gana El Madrid!

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The next 9 fixtures present an opportunity to turn things around and go on a run. It isn’t easy.. Nothing is. Yet..

Real Madrid Waiting For the Summer to Splash the Cash

Real Madrid cannot resist a superstar from a major tournament. There is little doubt in my mind that the club will find itself chasing some standout performers after the World Cup

The club have invested a significant amount in building the current squad. We have needed a creative midfielder since Ozil left. It has been the refrain. Nobody is ever creative enough because they’re not Ozil or simply because they play for Real Madrid. The last midfielder to leave is always the one we need currently. It’s a cycle. We do not need January signings. We have Castilla players and a large first team squad with at least two players for every position. The checkbook will not fix anything by signing anyone in January. Xabi must continue along his current path. He rolled back the changes. Sometimes you have to go back before you can go forward again. I sincerely hope that is what is happening. He made a few mistakes by not anticipating the resistance from Carlo’s grandkids.

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Nico’s Return

It is the great hope that Nico will not be Odegaarded upon his return. Should Xabi win enough silverware to continue next season he might have the confidence to choose substance over style and emotion which would allow the likes of Nico a chance to compete for a spot

The return of Nico Paz and possibly Chema Andres would be most welcome. It is definitely not sustainable but it will put pressure on the players in the current squad. The players need that pressure. They need to know we can win games without them if they refuse to do what the manager asks. Nico Paz is basically competition for Jude Bellingham or a potential Kroos-esque player. The latter will require development and patience. Kroos wasn’t great for our defence for a long time. He was hated by a section of the fans for that reason in fact. If Nico Paz and Jude play together, one of them has to do the less glamorous Toni Kroos role. Not so many direct assists or chances to score but pivotal for exerting some control over the game.

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Chem-istry

Another academy graduate with the potential to do a job in the first team. Chema has the potential to be a catalyst for Xabi-ball beyond even the likes of the chosen ones like Tchouameni and Fede Valverde..Too soon?

Chema Andres has developed really well this season. It is not clear that he should return after only one season. Nico Paz on the other hand has shown growth and consistency in his time at Como and is one of the most sought after youngsters in the game. If Chema keeps up the good work he will have many suitors by the end of the season. If Chema does return, he would have the challenge of doing naturally what the likes of Tchouameni and Camavinga seem to have to think through during games. Chema seems to still have some way to go and one wonders if Xabi would get more out of Chema as he is young and likely to listen compared to the current big bosses and leaders of men Xabi has been struggling with so far.

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Here’s Your Toni Kroos!

The obsession continues.. Another Toni Kroos.. We need Toni Kroos.. We need Redondo, Hierro, Makelele, Ramos, Marcelo, Cristiano, Di Stefano.. We need to stop and get on with it!!