Real Madrid impressive transfer activity this year has proven they have learnt from mistakes of the past. In the wake of signing three Spanish U21 stars and convincing young forward Jese to commit to the club, Real Madrid have strengthened more wisely than rivals Barcelona.
Whilst the Catalan giants have gone big and Brazilian, Real Madrid has recruited domestic talent in the mould of their arch-rivals. A month ago it seemed destined that Cavani or Bale or both would be doing the obligatory ball juggling to a packed Bernabeu. But Los Blancos have gone for a far more holistic approach and have taken the best of rest in La Liga and promoted some quality youth stars.
Jese and Daniel Carvajal have both committed their medium and long-term future to Real Madrid and are both products of its youth system. Where in the past Castilla stars have fled the capital for pastures new, due to the Galacticos policy limiting first team opportunities, it seems Madrid have learnt a valuable lessons.
Juan Mata and Roberto Soldado are a few names that escaped Madrid in the past decade, but after Jese’s impressive displaces in the Under-20 World Cup and being converted by some other European clubs Madrid have tied the 20-year-old to a contract that will see him at the club till 2017.
The return of wing back Daniel Carvajal, who had only left the Santiago Bernabeu 12 months before is also a product of Real’s youth academy. The £6 million transfer came after an impressive Bundesliga campaign with Bayer Leverkusen.
Then come the big money moves, nothing new to the club who has reportedly spent over 500 Million on transfers in ten years. However this year did come with a twist, these new stars where young and Spanish. Isco and Illarramendi joined the Madrid for a combined fee of £60million.
Where Barcelona have sold two Spanish internationals in Thiago and David Villa and spent nearly that amount alone on an international superstar in Neymar, is there some role reversal coming into play. This odd juxtaposition may see the Madrid out do Barcelona domestically and in the long-term in Europe. The success of Bayern Munich who has a strong German contingency points to ‘going hard and going home’ is the best way forward for some of Europe’s biggest clubs. If only some now Premier League sides would take heed.