By Alan Nicolea -
June 13th 2009 @ 2:13am
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Big signings an act of desperation for Madrid
One now only has to type up Cristiano Ronaldo’s name in Google to know how far Real Madrid will go to cease the superiority that great rivals Barcelona are currently enjoying both in Spain and in Europe.
Barcelona won the famed treble last season, which included the La Liga, Copa Del Rey and Champions League, in a year where the side really dominated all before them, bar a controversial semi-final victory over Chelsea in European competition.
Fuelled by the terrific form of players such as Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta, Xavi, Samuel Eto’o and Thierry Henry, Barcelona were able to win the famed treble for the first time in their history, and celebrate a year where everything went right for the Catalan giants.
In the midst of the celebrations however, rivals Real Madrid were hurting significantly, given the fact they suffered a humiliating 6-1 home defeat to Barcelona at a stage of the season where championships were on the line.
Throw in arguably their worst Champions League loss against Liverpool earlier this year, and it is not hard to understand why ‘los merengue’ have chosen to once again make their mighty presence felt on the transfer market.
In just the space of days, Madrid have snared AC Milan and Manchester United superstars Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo for record fees.
Kaka was the first to sign for Madrid for 67.5 million Euros, thus ending an association with a Milan club where the Brazilian wanted to grow old.
Just days later, Ronaldo fulfilled his fantasy for Madrid, by signing a world record deal that stands at an astounding 94 million Euros.
Despite snaring two players that can dominate a football match like few others, Madrid are a long way from finishing their shopping spree.
Others that are rumoured to be heading to the Bernabeu next season include Valencia striker David Villa, Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso and Bayern Munich star Frank Ribery.
Although Madrid continue to break records off the field, it is on the field where they would like to re-assert a dominance that ranks them as the most successful club in European history.
Their massive venture into the player market is an act of sheer desperation as they seek to end Barcelona’s majestic form.
It will also ensure that the ‘El Clasico’ between Barca and Madrid will be a spectacle that should not be missed by any football tragic.
Names such as Messi, Eto’o, Henry, Xavi and Iniesta will ply their trade against the likes of Kaka, Ronaldo, Raul and Casillas for the honour of being not only Spain’s best football club, but probably the world.
Despite the names that Madrid now possess, one thing still counting against them is the on field connection between their players.
While Barcelona play with a telepathic ability that is matched by few, Madrid have been all over the place with their football, emphasised by their dissapointing finish to the La Liga season.
It will no doubt take time for the contrasting styles of both Kaka and Ronaldo to perform adequately enough for a Madrid side desperate to end Barcelona’s present dominance.
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(7)
whiskeymac said | June 13th 2009 @ 7:47am | Report comment
do you think that the snaring of galactico’s has more to do with real madrids core business ie selling shirts and media exposure? the concept of buying all the best players in attack and parading them out on the pitch failed last time in terms of silverware and was generally discredited. but it did make the club the most talked about for awhile. and i think that has as much to do with it as anything else. Perez has called the transfer fees investments… not for results but for returns – the two players they just bought are estimated to earn the club well over 100M a year… real may not beat barca on the pitch but they will steal the headlines.
Alan Nicolea said | June 13th 2009 @ 11:04am | Report comment
Whiskeymac
No doubt Madrid will make alot of off field revenue from shirt sales and whatnot, but the Madrid faithful want their side to make the headlines for all the right reasons let me assure you. They were dreadful in European competition last season and failed to win La Liga after they had gone on a tremendous winning streak. The club wants results quickly, now more so because of Barca’s huge success. I personally would much rather be more successful on the field rather than the most talked about off it.
whiskeymac said | June 13th 2009 @ 12:16pm | Report comment
all clubs and fans ultimately want to win but is this splashing of cash for short term achievement, and pillaging of others, any more laudable than what Chelsea did or MAn City want to do? i hope for Real that they dont go the way of valencia with these purchases adding to their already significant debt.
David V. said | June 13th 2009 @ 12:56pm | Report comment
Real Madrid are also propped up by government- it is the “establishment” club in Spain after all- and hence by the Spanish taxpayer.
Captain Random said | June 13th 2009 @ 4:21pm | Report comment
And still no new defenders. Their priorities are pretty clear.
David V. said | June 13th 2009 @ 4:39pm | Report comment
Hey, didn’t Gamba win the ACL doing that?
Captain Random said | June 14th 2009 @ 1:33pm | Report comment
Yes, but Gamba never conceded 6 goals in 90 minutes with a title on the line.