Real driven forward by irresistible Perez
The name Real Madrid embodies grandeur and success, but Spain's most illustrious club have moved – and continue to move – to an even higher plateau. When they land Zinedine Zidane for £42 million next week, Real will break the transfer world record for the second time in as many summers.
The name Real Madrid embodies grandeur and success, but Spain's most illustrious club have moved – and continue to move – to an even higher plateau. When they land Zinedine Zidane for £42 million next week, Real will break the transfer world record for the second time in as many summers.
Club president Florentino Perez – elected just a year ago, weeks after Real collected their eighth European Cup and a second in three seasons – was quick to promise improvement, but supporters were curious to know where he would find it.
The incoming Bernabeu supremo knew differently. He was taking over a club with debts of £160 million – a conservative estimate considering Madrid's obsession with profligacy.
Perez responded by bringing in former Real coach Jorge Valdano as sports director, giving him the job of dealing with all transfer activity. The new president then kept his pre-election promise to sign Luis Figo from arch-rivals Barcelona, for a record £37 million.
The capture of the Portguese winger proved a major publicity coup off the field, while the player showed exceptional form on it. How, though, had Perez planned to pay such an astronomical fee? The shareholders and supporters soon knew.
At the beginning of the 2000-01 season, Perez announced he was selling Real's training ground, Ciudad Deportivo, for £165 million. The Spanish government and major banks had negotiated to buy the land and, in one fell swoop, Real's debt was wiped out.
Everyone on the white side of the Spanish capital celebrated, while cynical observers saw the move as a throwback to the dictatorial days of Franco, when the club was bankrolled by the government.
The fact that Real amassed such a large overdraft in the first place was a little surprising, considering they have 70,000 members, a lucrative deal with kit manufacturers Adidas, various sponsorship deals and large donations from Madrid-based companies.
That was soon forgotten, however, as Perez's manoeuvring, backed up by coach Vicente del Bosque, brought the championship back.
Six players, beside Figo, were brought in last summer. Goalkeeper Cesar arrived from Valladolid, Albert Celades and Claude Makelele came from Celta Vigo, Santiago Solari moved across town from Atletico, Pedro Munitis arrived from Racing Santander and Flavio Conceicao made the journey south from Deportivo La Coruna.
They complemented an already-impressive array of talent – the product of Real's youth academy and shrewder purchases in the transfer market.
Raul has been at the club since he was 16 and finished as the league's top goalscorer last season. Fernando Hierro was taken from Valladolid for a nominal amount 14 years ago, while Steve McManaman was brought in for nothing under the Bosman ruling.
One of the most attractive teams in Spain for many years promptly steamrollered to a 28th Liga title. They also reached the Champions' League semi-finals, only to be eliminated by eventual winners Bayern Munich.
Now Perez wants more. He knows he has a team capable of capturing the championship again next season, while Real were favourites to lift Europe's premier trophy even before Zidane's transfer became imminent.
That is not enough, though, for a man who understands the supporters yearn not only to watch the country's most successful side, but also one playing the best football.
Not since the 1950s has the club seen a full squad of players that are the envy of the world – but with the signing of Zidane, that is about to change. The World Cup and European Championship winner will line up alongside Figo, Roberto Carlos, Hierro and Raul.
Perez has created a team of fantasy footballers – and he is not done yet. Valencia skipper Gaizka Mendieta is on the wanted list and could be added before the start of the season for around £35 million.
Few doubt, either, that if Perez is determined to capture the Spain midfielder, he will get his man. The strategy is well rehearsed. Perez unsettles his man by talking him up in the media, then chucks about a few astronomical figures. Rival clubs soon run the white flag up the pole.
It worked with Figo, it is about to work with Zidane and it very rarely fails. This steely resolve to get what he wants was illustrated when Perez missed out on another target, Manuel Rui Costa, who joined AC Milan on Monday.
Perez and Valdano immediately met for dinner to discuss where and how they had gone wrong with the player and his Italian club Fiorentina.
They promptly flew to Turin, intent on prising Zidane from Juventus. A signing, they hope, will open an unbridgeable gap between themselves and their domestic and continental opponents.
A fee of around £42 million may seem ridiculous for a player arguably just on the turn, but this is Real Madrid. The aura that surrounds the club means they must have the best and pay the most. It is expected of them.
With Perez at the helm, though, Zidane will soon be last week's news. The Real chief will already be preparing for the future. The rest of the football community can only look on in envy.