Real Madrid – a club that became famous for signing at least one ‘galactico’ player each summer as far back as the early 2000s with many likely remembering these high profile additions.
This strategy started in quite controversial circumstances, with Luis Figo famously trading Barcelona for fierce rivals, Los Blancos, becoming a traitor to Barca fans almost overnight. This was then followed by the arrivals of Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo Nazario, David Beckham and even Michael Owen. It marked president Florentino Perez’s first campaign.
Perez then followed this up when he came back into power some years later. Indeed, the summer of 2009, saw an astonishing £300 million transfer blitz, which included them breaking the record for Cristiano Ronaldo, while bringing in Kaka and Karim Benzema, among a number of others, including current manager, Xabi Alonso.
In the years that followed, Gareth Bale then arrived, along with Luka Modric and several others.
With Perez still president – and now until 2029, there looks to have been a slight change in Real Madrid’s transfer policy over the last few years. Undoubtedly, the COVID-19 pandemic had an effect on the club’s finances (hitting rivals, Barcelona a lot harder), however, the club seemingly hasn’t been as free-spending over the last couple of years.
Their only notable, high-profile signing was Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund (last summer). Note that Kylian Mbappe joined on a free transfer. Trent Alexander-Arnold also arrived on a free transfer this summer, while centre-back Dean Huijsen was the club’s only major outlay.
Alonso To Change The Way Real Recruits?
As we have seen during his time at Bayer Leverkusen, Alonso has been great at finding gems and turning them into stars with world class potential.
Currently, you would say that Real Madrid’s squad is relatively balanced as well, though they appear to have a conundrum in attack. Speculation surrounds the future of Vinicius Junior who has been criticised for his work-rate, unsettling influence and having to effectively play ‘second fiddle’ to Mbappe.
It could be that Alonso wants to create and mould his own squad, less ‘ego-based’ and more about combined effort and humility. Should this be the case, it could see a number of players moved on and the club veering away from their previously successful ‘Galactico’ transfer strategy.
Silverware Key For Alonso’s Success
More or less everyone who has managed the club in the last 20 years has won at least one trophy and this will be the benchmark for Alonso. Whether this be La Liga or the Champions League, the Spaniard is going to be judged just on these. A Copa Del Rey win will be a bonus.
However, we have seen the Champions League get even tougher in recent years. PSG were undoubtedly deserved victors last season and Alonso might take a leaf out of their coach, Luis Enrique’s book. PSG has abandoned their own ‘Galactico’ model in recent years and they now have a team of young, hungry, yet highly talented players.
If Alonso is going to succeed, he may look to this approach in order to rejuvenate the Spanish giants and this could well be central to his transfer plans.