REAL MADRID
Mbappé triggers increased Real Madrid ‘call effect’
Players from all over the world offer themselves to Los Blancos, dazzled by the sporting project and the challenge of succeeding in the new Bernabéu.
The still-to-be-made-official future arrival of Kylian Mbappé at Real Madrid in the summer has further shaken the foundations of the transfer market. Players from around the world are sending direct and indirect messages to Valdebebas to join the project. “Many agents are calling offering their footballers,” confirms a source at Chamartín, adding, “and not only for the first team but also for the reserves and youth team.” After years of dominance by state-backed clubs, which relied on their almost infinite financial muscle, the decision of the French star, and before him Jude Bellingham, to sign for Madrid while turning down bigger financial deals compared with other offers, has disrupted the plans of PSG and Manchester City, the two major clubs in question.
The Mbappé effect and more in Madrid
But it’s not just the ‘Mbappé effect’ that is attracting interest from footballers to the 14-time champions of Europe, something that the club verifies every day, but also the sporting project for the upcoming seasons. This, in addition to the sporting facilities, especially the Ciudad Deportiva training centre and, of course, the state-of-the-art new Santiago Bernabéu stadium.
“Our players also receive calls and messages from their international colleagues at other clubs who show interest in coming to Madrid,” we’re told. And it’s worth noting that any incoming players will already have the foundation of the current one, with almost all those who are there remaining, especially the young players who have arrived in recent years. Rodrygo, Vinicius, Camavinga, Bellingham and the rest are and will continue to be the backbone of Madrid, to which, next season, not only Mbappé will join but also Endrick and very possibly Alphonso Davies, who, in the worst case scenario, would arrive the following year if Bayern Munich becomes too demanding.
Madrid’s various streams of strength
Real Madrid’s sporting plan revolves around young players of recognized talent and the signing of the Galácticos of the 21st century, of which Mbappé is the flagship. This doesn’t mean there’s no room for the academy. Rafa Marín will return this summer, and Nico Paz is aiming for the first team sooner rather than later. At Madrid, efforts are being made to build a strong team with a deep squad, as it will be necessary given the impending changes.
European Super League hopes still linger
For Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, president of PSG, losing Mbappé is not the only setback. The controversial European Super League is intensifying its contacts with clubs across Europe and preparing to launch the competition within two years. It is assumed that the Commercial Court of Madrid will endorse the ruling of the Court of Justice of the European Union. Even if UEFA decides to appeal the decision of the Spanish courts, provisional execution would be requested given that it is the verdict of a higher court, the CJEU.
By the time that moment arrives, Los Blancos want to be well-prepared. Hence, in addition to the new Bernabéu, a squad of guaranteed success is being built to compete amongst the best in the world, assuming that Qatar, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, and some of the North American owners of Premier League clubs will soon disrupt the market. This is the scenario that Madrid has anticipated, not only with Mbappé and Endrick but also previously with Tchouaméni, Camavinga, and Bellingham, as well as the Brazilians Vini, Rodrygo, and Militao. The signings of Alaba and Rüdiger responded to the criterion of opportunity.
The task of shaping such a fabulous project falls on Carlo Ancelotti, who will have only one discomfort: gradually phasing out players who have given so much to him and to Madrid, but who must make way for the young ones. The next will be Luka Modric, who will leave Madrid when his contract ends in June, but he will do so with all the honours and the utmost recognition of the club. The renewal of Toni Kroos for one more year looks promising, but it has not yet been decided by either party, who will have to negotiate. But now, with the Galácticos II and the sparkling new home, nobody wants to leave. On the contrary, Madrid has regained its full power of attraction.