The boomerang effect that Florentino didn't count on

BarcelonaYou don't need to be close friends with Florentino Pérez to know that Real Madrid's president doesn't take criticism well. Two blank years are too many for a leader accustomed to success who had recently been pointed out for poor management in transfer policy. With a serious face in the stands and after the umpteenth change on the bench, Florentino slammed his fist on the table, calling an absurd press conference – the first he had held in eleven years – to announce elections. Also for the first time in two decades, the leader had an opponent in front of him – until now, he had won them as the sole candidate. And once re-elected, he seemed to put the pedal to the metal with an aggressive and authoritarian transfer policy, where he not only wanted to strengthen his Madrid, but also wanted to annoy Barça, the rival to beat in the Spanish league in the last two years.

Like a wounded animal, Florentino fired at everyone and at everyone. He kicked off the summer by signing José Mourinho as an anti-Barça antidote and strengthening the team with four signings at once, two of them – Marc Cucurella and Bernardo Silva – players who had been in Barça's orbit. The president's blatant "Barcelonitis" was also evident with Julián Álvarez, the Atlético de Madrid forward that the Barça club wanted and for whom he made an offer of 150 million. Money that the Mattress Makers would reject, but which was still a way to increase the price of the operation and hinder the hypothetical arrival of the "Spider" at the Camp Nou. Florentino would also stick his nose into basketball, beating the signing of Luwawu-Cabarrot with a hefty sum.

Florentino's most complicit entourage has taken it upon themselves to praise, whether on social media or in traditional media, the president's work. But as time has passed, it has been proven that things were not so well calculated and in Madrid they are beginning to feel the boomerang effect. The 150 million offered for Julián, and subsequently confirmed through an official statement, have served for RB Leipzig to corner Real Madrid with the signing of Yan Diomande: when everyone knows you have a full wallet, the price goes up and in the end the operation has climbed to over 125 million.

Another consequence of Florentino's summer signings is that, unintentionally, he has benefited Barça. The arrival of Konaté has forced Liverpool to look for a center-back to replace him, and that has been the Barça player Ronald Araujo, a footballer who was not in Flick's plans and who, leaving on loan, frees up a squad spot in the Camp Nou dressing room and gives Barça more salary margin.

The Rodri case shakes up Real Madrid's transfer policy

The concern that there might have been in Barcelona about Real Madrid's policy has turned into smiles with the Rodri case. And it is that, when it seemed that the MVP of the World Cup was being agreed to reinforce Real Madrid's midfield, Florentino tried to reduce the cost of the operation by breaking the verbal agreement he had with Manchester City. The English team did not take it well and this opened the door for Barça to get involved. If nothing strange happens, Rodri will not play at the Bernabéu, but at the Camp Nou. In a way, President Joan Laporta will have taken his revenge.

But, beyond the possible taunts between Barça and Real Madrid fans for having snatched a player from their eternal rival, the failed signing has stirred up spirits in the Real Madrid dressing room and has caused José Mourinho to raise his voice for the first time. In statements to Real Madrid Television, the coach complained about having a "short" squad and said he needed "a player like Bernardo [Silva], who can play in the different midfield positions". In other words, a Rodri.

It was not Mourinho's only complaint, who spoke after the minimal victory at Ferencvárosi's ground. He also criticized his players' excessively daring play, taking risks with the ball when they had the lead, and regarding Bernardo himself, he pointed him out, saying he had returned from vacation "in quite inferior physical condition," holding him responsible for the team losing control of the ball in the second half of that friendly.

The official season begins in fifteen days for Real Madrid and the transfer market closes in just over three weeks. It is easy to imagine that the Madrid president has not liked the coach's comments. From here, only time will tell if he pays attention to him and grants his wishes.