Real Madrid Continue to Be a Contradiction by Astutely Planning a Future Squad

You know the business model by now. You’ve grown accustomed to it, always ready for its unique brand of football-meets-commerce-meets-entertainment. It’s existed for almost two decades since its inception at the beginning of the century; on and off in its execution, yes, but always there in concept: stars, tournament sensations, Galacticos, Galacticos managing Galacticos, fanfare, colossal spending. 

It’s a method that has transported Real Madrid into their own world for much of president Florentino Perez’s reign. At times it’s been compelling; at others, tiresome.

But throughout, the knock on the club has never wavered: Real Madrid don’t plan. Real Madrid don’t build. Real Madrid don’t have a model—the football sort.  

And yet, weirdly, right now they sort of do. 

On the surface, this has been an unusually quiet summer at the Santiago Bernabeu. There are several causes for it, but look beyond the high-profile exterior and you’ll find ongoing, astute planning on another level. 

In early July, Real Madrid completed the signing of highly rated 18-year-old forward Sergio Diaz. Likened to a young Sergio Aguero—admittedly, such comparisons should always be treated with caution—the Paraguayan will join the club’s Castilla squad for the upcoming season, as will coveted Uruguayan midfielder Federico Valverde, who joined the club this week. 

The two signings represent the continuation of talent stockpiling by Madrid. There have been others at youth level, too, and they come on the back of deals in 2015 for emerging stars at senior level: Marco Asensio, Jesus Vallejo and Mateo Kovacic.

No plan? Sometimes, in some ways, no. But in this case, there is. 

Real Madrid have become a contradiction. 

Real Madrid land the ‘new Kun’ – Paraguayan forward Sergio Díaz https://t.co/DKsxULOAVS pic.twitter.com/oYdOqEK3Zy

— AS English (@English_AS) July 2, 2016

A look at Madrid’s transfer activity in recent years reveals that youth is a key focus, a future squad clearly being built. Or at least the framework for one, along with some sellable assets. 

Like Martin Odegaard before them, Diaz and Valverde are significant additions in youth-level terms, the money spent notable, the profile of the players high for their age. At the level above, meanwhile, a similar theme has been evident. 

Since 2013, Madrid have either signed or re-signed this bunch: Gareth Bale, Isco, Dani Carvajal, Casemiro, Asier Illarramendi, James Rodriguez, Toni Kroos, Lucas Silva, Keylor Navas, Danilo, Kovacic, Kiko Casilla, Lucas Vazquez, Vallejo, Asensio, and, mostly recently, Alvaro Morata. 

Not all of them are still in place, but most are. And at …

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