When Florentino Perez presented his candidacy for the presidency of Real Madrid in 2000 he was aware that he had to execute a management model hitherto unknown in the world of football to revitalize the club's economic depression. The businessman explained that in order to win, large amounts of money had to be invested in "universal projection" players. In four years he paid 215.5 million for only four players: Figo (60), Zidane (73), Ronaldo (45) and Beckham (37.5). "With them we went from entering 100 million to 300 and losing money to earn it," Pérez was justified in the television program Salvados in 2014. Almost two decades later, that management model has been replaced. If before Madrid focused on investing in contrasted figures, now it does so in young and revalueable talent. The plan, according to the directors, is no longer to buy gold balls, but to manufacture them.

The change has been as gradual as forced. The strategy began in 2013 and has intensified in recent years as a result of the prevailing inflation in the football market. Since then, the white club has only tackled two major operations: Gareth Bale, bought in 2013 for 100 million, and James Rodríguez, signed for 80 in 2015. In the same period the Madrid has incorporated 22 players between 16 and 23 years for about 330 million. In addition, a dozen homegrown players were registered as first team players. Today, only seven of the 32 have left the club leaving earnings of 142 million, 15 have the first team record and two more are doing the preseason with Julen Lopetegui.

Madrid strengthened this strategy in anticipation that the signing of the television contract that the Premier closed in 2015 made the competition with the English clubs practically unsustainable. Florentino Pérez considered that his growth and the irruption of the so-called state clubs, such as Manchester City or PSG, would leave Madrid at a disadvantage. In the club they assumed that they would not be able to compete in the long term. Nor to absorb in your finances the salary bubble existing in recent years. And, also, that many players would stop choosing Madrid to sign for lower-tier teams solely for economic reasons. It was what happened in 2016, when Pogba opted for United, and last summer in the bidding with PSG for Mbappé. The case of the striker, followed by Zidane since 2013, was the confirmation of the change of scenery. Therefore, Chamartin leaders now say that the priority and the differential factor will be in anticipating the discovery of wonders. In this, Juni Calafat, international soccer chief, and José Angel Sánchez, manager of the company, is in charge of closing the incorporation of two Brazilian youths, Vinicius Jr. and Rodrygo Goes, for a price never seen in those ages: 45 million.

"The international football scene has been transformed in a dizzying way and we must adapt and face this reality," said Florentino during the presentation of the last young man to land in Madrid, the 19-year-old Ukrainian goalkeeper Andryi Lunin, signed for 8.5 million . The leader's words refer to a market in which any elite player they ask for costs more than 150 million. At the moment, in Chamartín they are only willing to surpass that figure by Mbappé and Neymar. But hiring one of the two is practically impossible.

In a time without sports emergencies, Madrid does not worry about spending another summer without tackling a big signing. Perhaps, with this management, they have done it before.