Has anyone noticed Jose's Real army?
August 19th 2010 12:35
So given the lack of interest and coverage given to Real Madrid this summer, you'd have to assume that they appointed a quiet, average manager. This manager has gone out and made a few bargain buys to add depth to the squad, and ahead is a season of consolidation.
WRONG! Real Madrid have appointed possibly the greatest manager of all time, Jose Mourinho. The man who brought Porto the Champions League, Chelsea their first domestic title in half a century, and Inter Milan's first Champions League in nearly as long. The man who is the self-proclaimed 'special one' and learnt from the master himself, Sir Bobby Robson.
But who has he signed? Safe to say, Jose has taken a slightly different approach to that which Real took last summer. The problem at a club like Real Madrid is how much of a say the president gets in transfers. Though Cristiano Ronaldo turned out to be worth every penny of his world record transfer fee, as he struck 26 league goals in what was an underrated debut season in Spain, signings such as Kaka and Benzema weren't for the good of the team, but for off the field benefit, ie shirt sales. Kaka doesn't fit into Real's system and found himself out on the left wing, while Benzema spent most of the season watching Higuain rip apart defences in his place.
But the ever wise Mourinho demanded control of transfers. Instead of building an image which could attract sponsorship and marketing income through transfers, he has concentrated on building a squad capable of winning trophies. Firstly, Real have signed Sergio Canales and Pedro Leon. They are players with smaller reputations than the usual galactico signings, but are two of the brightest young prospects in Spanish football.
Then their is Ricardo Carvalho. At 32, he is probably slightly past his peak and doesn't have many years left at the top level of football, but is still a world class centre back. Mourinho managed the Portuguese star at Porto and Chelsea, and knows he will get nothing but quality and solid performances from the experienced defender.
Angel Di Maria has arrived from Benfica for a fee around £20 million. But somehow it seems to have slipped under the radar of football fans everywhere that one of the best wingers in world football is now also on Real's books. Germany world cup stars Sami Khedira and Mesut Ozil are also in, and at the ages of 23 and 21, could become two of the best players in world football.
I believe the spending spree Real Madrid have embarked on this summer, has been much more impressive and productive than last summers, but has gained only a little bit as much attention. Given the arrivals of so many stars, which will help create in my opinion the strongest squad in world football, I won't be surprised to see Real Madrid dominate domestic football in Spain, and across Europe, until Jose Mourinho decides it is time for his next challenge. The strange thing however is, that this dominance will come as a shock too many, as these Real Madrid signings seem to have gone unnoticed, though perhaps that is what Jose wants. But on paper, Real Madrid now have a squad head and shoulders above any other in world football, even Barcelona.
| 98 |
| Vote |
subscribe to this blog
Comment by fishtank
Fishtank
Comment by Kranium Decay
Soccerfest
metalheads
Cricket World
Comment by Matt Saltmer
Procrasturbating
Best in Footy
English Premier League