Florentino Pérez goes crazy again

BarcelonaThe world of football is cyclical, it tends to revisit itself. And Real Madrid is a great example to remember this. 17 years after Florentino Pérez returned to the white presidency and signed Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Xabi Alonso and Ricardo Kaká in one go to dethrone Pep Guardiola's triumphant Barça, Leo Messi and company, the white leader, legitimized at the polls at the beginning of last June, is once again reaching for his wallet to challenge his eternal rival's reign.

At this stage of the summer, with more than a month to go before the transfer market closes, the Madrid club, which has gone two seasons without winning any titles, has already committed more than 200 million euros in transfers alone. The latest acquisition is Yan Diomande, a young Ivorian winger who in just one year has gone from being relegated to the Second Division with Leganés to being one of the standout names of the World Cup and costing 120 million. This is the figure that German club Leipzig, one of the European teams with the keenest eye for promoting emerging talent, will receive in exchange for a forward that other big clubs like Liverpool or PSG were after.

The Franco-Qatari club, the current European champion, criticized Madrid for snatching Diomande in a lightning-fast move. "We have officially withdrawn our interest. The economic demands, both for the transfer and the salary, were totally disproportionate and could unbalance the market. We will not deviate from rigorous financial management nor will we participate in the inflated and manipulative games of certain player agents," published PSG, which in nine years has gone from paying 222 million for Neymar (still the most expensive signing in history today) to asking for prudence in spending.

Be that as it may, the million-dollar bet on Diomande comes just one year after Madrid spent 63 million on Franco Mastantuono, another young right-sided footballer who has depreciated in value in just one season. Florentino, in fact, has repeated this trend in all the moves he has made this summer. Bernardo Silva, signed on a free transfer, has an even more similar profile to the Argentine attacking midfielder, who is expected to go out on loan to get more playing time. For his part, Marc Cucurella, signed for 55 million, will reinforce the left-back position, the role that last summer was covered by Álvaro Carreras, signed for 50 million. Denzel Dumfries, who cost 20 million, arrives to improve the right flank just one season after the signing of Trent Alexander-Arnold, another attacking full-back with a star's salary. And Ibrahima Konaté, acquired as a free agent, will be direct competition for Dean Huijsen, whom Madrid also bought less than twelve months ago for 60 million.

Amidst the urgencies and poor planning, the Merengue entity is nearing 400 million euros in spending, which also includes the release clauses of Xabi Alonso (12-15 million at Bayer Leverkusen) and José Mourinho (15 million at Benfica). The figure could still grow further, as Florentino now does value Rodrigo Hernández, a defensive midfielder for the Spanish national team and Ballon d'Or winner at the World Cup won by La Roja just a week ago. He is 30 years old, his contract with Manchester City ends in 2027, and he has already informed the Citizens officials that he prioritizes returning to Spain. Madrid has already spoken with his entourage and is preparing 60 million to make him the sixth signing for next season and the first in the defensive midfield position since Toni Kroos' retirement. The only drawback of this acquisition is that he will not be available until well into the campaign, as a chronic back problem has forced Rodri to undergo surgery.

And how will Madrid pay for all this?

All these millionaire movements at the end of July invite Real Madrid, which does not have unlimited credit like clubs belonging to large investment funds, to seek financing through asset sales. Vinícius Júnior, who has dug in his heels in negotiations to renew a contract that expires in 2027, is now the easiest way for Florentino to fill the coffers with a transfer this summer. Arsenal is interested and could exceed 100 million with an initial offer. Other players with market value for whom the Madrid club must listen to offers are Raúl Asencio, Gonzalo García, Endrick, Eduardo Camavinga and Aurélien Tchouaméni. For now, however, they await Mourinho's orders in this preseason.