Real Madrid News
How Real Madrid’s transfer strategy with youth players has led to €160 million in potential earnings
In recent years, Real Madrid have adopted a very effective strategy of selling their youth players permanently.
While the club have not been able to compete with Barcelona when it comes to integrating their academy stars into the first-team, they have employed a more ingenious strategy.
Although Real Madrid are selling their youth players at will, they have been smart enough to retain 50% transfer rights, which allows them to buy the player back on a cut-price deal.
Real Madrid have gained €160 million through youth players
As reported by AS, Real Madrid have gained up to €160 million in pure market value thanks to their strategy of selling youth players with 50% transfer rights.
At the moment, Real Madrid have ten such players who are playing elsewhere but with Los Blancos holding half of their transfer rights.
The biggest case in point is Nico Paz, who left the academy when he was valued at €10 million. Now, he is valued at an impressive €65 million, thanks to his success at Como.
Paz’s success at Como has even convinced Real Madrid to bring him back to Santiago Bernabeu next season, with Dani Ceballos likely to be the sacrificial lamb.
Paz is not the only Como player Real Madrid are still associated with. Jacobo Ramon, too, has enjoyed immense success and has gone from being valued at €1 million to €18 million. His success has even led to reports that Real Madrid may bring him back as well.
Another top reference is Chema Andres. He was valued at around €800k when joining Stuttgart, but is now valued at €14.2 million after his success in the Bundesliga.
Some of the other examples include Alex Jimenez, Victor Munoz, Antonio Blanco and Mario Gila. In total, there are ten players, all of whom combined have seen a value appreciation of €160 million.
Real Madrid News
Mourinho reacts to Vinicius suspension: “Why announce it two hours before an important match?”
Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has questioned the RFEF Disciplinary Committee’s decision to announce Vinicius Jr.’s four-match suspension just hours before their UEFA Champions League meeting with AS Roma on Wednesday.
The Brazilian has been hit with a four-match ban for his red card against Villarreal, meaning he will miss the matches against Sevilla, Barcelona, Racing Santander, and Valencia.
And, speaking to Movistar+ (h/t MARCA) before the match, the Real Madrid manager was asked whether the punishment could affect the Brazilian psychologically.
Mourinho instead turned his attention to the football authorities and the timing of their announcement.
“I think that is a question for the Committee. Why have they announced the suspension at this particular moment? If you are asking me this question, it is presumably because you think it could affect him,” the Portuguese coach replied.
“You should ask the Committee why they did not announce it this morning, or tomorrow morning. Why do they do it two hours before a match that is important for Real Madrid, which is a Spanish club?” he added, questioning the timing of the decision.
Mourinho explains his tactical approach against Roma
The Real Madrid manager also outlined his plan for facing a Roma side known for their aggressive pressing.
“My intention is to stop them from pressing us so high up the pitch, given the players we have available and as a precaution,” he said.
Continuing, the Portuguese manager added: “They press man-to-man higher up the pitch better than anyone else, and we will see whether we can take advantage of that. If not, they will have to drop their press five or ten metres.”
Why Rudiger over Huijsen
Mourinho also justified his decision to start Antonio Rudiger at centre-back alongside Ibrahima Konate rather than Dean Huijsen.
“They played very well together in the last match, Rudiger and Konate, showing great leadership and the ability to withstand a difficult situation when we had ten men for 30 minutes,” he said.
“I am not saying Dean is not capable of playing a match like this, but this is a wonderful atmosphere for Roma and a difficult one for us. I think a player with Antonio’s experience can be important,” Mourinho added.
Finally, Mourinho was asked about his emotions ahead of returning to face Roma, the club he managed between 2021 and 2024.
The Portuguese coach offered a brief response, saying that he had his feelings about the occasion “blocked”.
