Real Madrid are known for singing high profile players referred to as 'Galacticos'. Zidane, Beckam, Figo and Kaka are examples. More recent examples are Ronaldo(now at Juventus), Gareth Bale and the last true galactico can be said to be James Rodriguez. Madrid's president Florentino Perez enjoys signing high profile players. Jorge Valdano, Madrid's former player and General Manager claimed Madrid had the chance to sign Kaka when he was younger and would cost Real only €12million. He warned Perez that while the player cost only €12million now, he will cost €60million in the future. Perez's answer was unforgettable according to Valdano. Perez said " 'Don't worry Jorge. We'll wait till he costs 60’.”
The influx of money into football especially in the EPL has changed things. Madrid can't just wait for these players to mature and then just cherry pick them from rival clubs. These clubs can rival Madrid's financial power and are by no means obliged to sell their best players.
Over the years, Madrid's policy of signing 'Galacticos' have evolved. They now create Galacticos. Raphael Varane and Marcelo arrived at the club at the age of 19 and are now world class players. Imagine how much Madrid will have to pay for them now. Then imagine how much difficult it will be to sign these players if they belong to a big club like PSG, Barcelona, Bayern Munich. These clubs too want to compete at the highest level and will most definitely want to do business with Madrid.
Another example is Casemiro and Asensio. Madrid bought Asensio for a measly €3million and Casemiro for €6million. Both players have matured and again imagine how much Madrid will have to buy them now. Kovacic, Theo Hernandez and Odriozola are players that fit into this new policy.
But not all of this young players come cheap. Vinicius jnr and Rodrygo, the two brightest talents in Brazil cost Madrid almost €100million. Madrid paid £45million for Vinicius when he was even yet to make a first team appearance.
Real knows how difficult it will be to acquire this players in the future should they become world class. But Real Madrid aren't just signing young players anyhow. They are signing the most talented youngsters who are bets for the future. The reason behind Real paying €45million for 16yr old Vinicius was because they believe he will turn into a world class player and make the pricetag look like a steal.
Just this summer, Madrid signed a 19yr old goalkeeper Abdriy Lunin. The young goalkeeper was monitored by Europe's elite teams but Madrid moved quickly and secured his signature. Should he realize his potential, Madrid are onto a winner. There are still players like Odegaard and Vallejo who are also promising prospectsReal Madrid still sign "Galactico" but they now go about it in a different way. They sign them when they are young and mould them into galacticos.
This change of policy is necessary in this insane world of football when it gets increasingly harder to sign players.
This new policy is one that have come to stay and you can expectba few more 'Wonderkid' to arrive at the Santiago Bernabeu in the nearest future.
FutbolJoker.......
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