Endrick, Kylian Mbappe and Alphonso Davies
Real Madrid signed English wonder boy Jude Bellingham in the summer and he has been amazing firing on all cylinders for the Spanish giants. They have recently completed the signing of Brazilian football prodigy Endrick from Palmeiras and they have Kylian Mbappe and possibly Bayern Munich LB Alphonso Davies on the way. Both players are likely to join the Spanish club in the summer transfer window at the end of the season.
Jude Bellingham signs for Real Madrid
On close examination, you can easily see a trend of the best young players moving to Real Madrid. This begs the question; what is it about the club that makes it a choice destination for the world’s best football players?
Kylian Mbappe
Real Madrid has a reputation for having the most start-studded squad in the game and this extends from the first Galactico era which featured the likes of Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham, Ronaldo Nazario, and Luis Figo to what looks like the third Galacticos era that Real Madrid is now building. It’s almost as if interest from Real Madrid confirms a player’s ability about how good he is. If Real Madrid, which only signs the best players begins to show interest in you as a player, surely it must mean that you’re exceptional, that you’re special.
Galacticos
We think a combination of five major factors is responsible for Real’s player pull power. A perfect blend of legacy, trophies, individual awards, team quality, and money makes Real Madrid so very attractive to players. Let’s take a deep dive.
HISTORY
Real Madrid has history and legacy on their side. As one of the founding members of La Liga, they have never been relegated from the Spanish top-flight football competition since its inception in 1929. They have marketed themselves as a club of winners and have a rich history that players want to be a part of.
Their history has big names in football such as Zidane, Figo, Ferenc Puskas, Alfredo Di Stefano, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Ozil all of whom are football legends who inspired a generation of footballers. To play for the same club as these players is a dream come true for a lot of new-generation players who consider members of the Galacticos their idols.
TROPHIES
Real Madrid Trophy Room. photo credit: JMA
Real Madrid won their 13th Champions League in Kyiv, in 2018.
Real Madrid wins their 14th Champions League Trophy in 2022.
Real Madrid is a club that wins trophies. Los Blancos have won a total of 70 domestic trophies; a record 35 La Liga titles, 20 Copa del Rey, 13 Supercopa de Espana, a Copa Eva Duarte, and a Copa de la Liga.
In international football, their dominance across different eras speaks for itself and is reflected in their trophy cabinet. The club has won a record 14 Champions League titles; seven more than the runner-up AC Milan. They’ve won a record five UEFA Super Cups, two UEFA Cups, two Latin cups, one Iberoamerican Cup, and a record eight FIFA Club World Cups. UEFA ranks Real Madrid first in the all-time club ranking.
Florentino Perez
The shine and sheer number of Real Madrid’s silverware attracts young players who hope to etch their name in the club’s history and help them win more trophies. Florentino Perez knows this and always makes a point to give new signees and potential signees a tour of the Real Madrid trophy room.
Real Madrid wins their 35th La Liga title
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
Cristiano Ronaldo wins his fifth Balon d’Or at Real Madrid. image credit; Getty Images
Being in a Real Madrid team vastly improves a player’s chances of winning individual awards. Apart from playing with some of the best players on the planet as teammates which in turn makes a player better, the club’s visibility and massive fan base positions players favorably for individual awards and even national team call-ups. A record eight different players have won the Balon d’Or while playing for Real Madrid. Alfredo Di Stefano, Raymond Kopa, Luis Figo, Ronaldo Nazario, Fabio Cannavaro, Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric, and Karim Benzema all won the Balon d’Or in their time playing for Real Madrid.
Karim Benzema wins the Balon d’Or in 2022.
Luka Modric wins the Balon d’Or
Winning the Balon d’Or is no easy feat for any footballer but being in a Real Madrid team vastly improves your chances of winning the award and other individual trophies; except you’re Lionel Messi.
TEAM QUALITY
Los Blancos are known for the quality of players in their squad. They sign the best players in the world and the opportunity to be part of a super team with exceptional talent like the Galacticos is something many youngsters dream of. Currently, they’re assembling a super team that the football world is calling the third wave of Galacticos. The prospect of playing with legends like Toni Kroos, and Luka Modric, and new-generation talents like Vinicius Jr, Eduardo Camavinga, Aurelian Tchouameni, and Rodrygo Goes appeals to many young talents. This increases their pull and contributes to making Madrid a choice destination for young talents.
MONEY
David Beckham, Luis Figo, Florentino Perez, Zinedine Zidane, and Ronaldo Nazario during the Galactico era
Real Madrid remains the richest football club in the world valued at $6.07 billion and an annual revenue of $807 million. Their wealth is reflected in their player compensation and contract packages. A Real Madrid contract usually rewards players more financially than most other clubs. Only a few clubs in the world can match the remuneration that Los Blancos offers their players. The money is the icing on the cake that makes Real Madrid a dream move for a lot of football players.
Real Madrid is a top club and will remain a top club because they are never shy to spend money to bring talent to the Santiago Bernabeu. They have the money to buy almost any player they want and have the financial weight to outbid most other clubs.
Real Madrid won the Super Cup in 2014.
Real Madrid have got the history, the legacy, the trophies, and the financial muscle to attract the best talents in the world. This combination makes Real Madrid a choice destination for players all over the world.