Real Madrid News
Real Madrid working wonders in the transfer market: €170m profit in last five windows
Contrary to the customary reputation of spending big in the transfer market, Real Madrid have, in fact, been one of the most profitable teams in such difficult economic times.
According to football broadcaster Dougie Critchley, the team from the Spanish capital has churned an impressive profit of nearly €170 million over the last five transfer windows.
This has been made possible through the big-money sales of players like Achraf Hakimi, Martin Odegaard, Raphael Varane and Casemiro. Two of the mentioned four players were regular starters and despite their departures, the team has only gotten better.
It’s not to say the record European champions haven’t spent big. In fact, players such as Aurelien Tchouameni (€100 million) and Eduardo Camavinga (€40 million) have cost Madrid €140 million, including add-ons. But it’s fair to say the decision is paying dividends.
Homework’s the key
This summer, when the transfer window opened on July 1, Real Madrid had done their prior homework. Talks with Tchouameni and Antonio Rudiger were already established, hence it came as no surprise that the two players were unveiled as new signings within the first two weeks itself.
Balancing the financial books is an important task, and the Madrid management has done a commendable job, to say the very least, with Gareth Bale, Isco, Luka Jovic and Marcelo all departing, with the club getting rid of their massive wages.
A club like Real Madrid always has a contingency plan, therefore, losing Casemiro to Manchester United for a reported £70 million fee did not really affect the team.
Furthermore, the likes of Borja Mayoral (€10 million), Takefusa Kubo (€6 million), Miguel Gutierrez (€5 million) and Victor Chust (€1 million) were also sold Madrid managed to keep the balance on the positive side.
What about Kylian Mbappe? Well, if not for the contract he signed with Paris Saint-Germain, he would have arrived on a free transfer anyway.
A brilliant repeat of the past
The aforementioned summer business was a perfect imitation of Madrid’s transfer approach ahead of the 2021/22 football season. Back then, Eduardo Camavinga had arrived for an initial €31 million fee, while David Alaba was acquired from Bayern Munich for free.
On the other hand, Raphael Varane (€40 million) moved to Manchester United, and Odegaard joined Arsenal for €35 million as Madrid balanced the book with a profit of +€44 million.
While these businesses were indeed executed to perfection, the profit was even greater during the 2020-21 transfer market. Back then, Achraf Hakimi was sold to Inter for about €43 million, another full-back, Sergio Reguilon, joined Tottenham for about €30 million and Oscar Rodriguez was sold to Sevilla for €13.5 million.
Departures of Javi Sanchez, Jorge De Frutos, Soro and Dani Gomez took Madrid’s revenue to about €104.2 million.
Since 2020, Real Madrid have recorded a net profit of more than €160 million and all that has been done while conquering LaLiga, Champions League, Spanish and European Super Cups.
It must be noted that all of it has been achieved while facing the monumental costs of rebuilding Santiago Bernabeu. So if there’s anyone who needs a role model in managing the finances, it is indeed the iconic Real Madrid.
Real Madrid are looking towards a heavy splurge in the coming summer transfer window. After all, they do not even have another option given the sheer number of player departures already finalized.
Los Blancos have lost the services of Karim Benzema, Marco Asensio, Mariano Diaz, and Eden Hazard over the past week. While three of the four players predominantly featured on the bench, their presence in the squad gave Carlo Ancelotti’s side much-needed depth and a cushion of sorts.
The forward unit is, thus, the most prioritized department ahead of the transfer window. However, pieces are beginning to fall apart on other fronts and could potentially put the club in a difficult situation.
According to reports from Gianluca Di Marzio, Juventus are eyeing Lucas Vazquez and hope to sign him in the coming month. Contacts between the two parties have begun and the transfer fee discussed appears to be around the €6 million to €8 million ballpark given that he has just one year left on his contract.
The player, for his part, is willing to sign for the Italian giants given his relative lack of minutes at the Santiago Bernabeu. At 31 years of age, he understandably does not want to play a second-fiddle role.
Vasquez played part in 23 of Real Madrid’s 38 La Liga games last season, starting only on 12 occasions. Even in his few appearances, he averaged a mere 50 minutes per game.
The veteran completed the season with four goals and an assist to his name. Further, he averaged five defensive actions and a key pass in every game and feels hard done by his limited role.
Vazquez’s departure would place the club in a tricky situation as it would leave Real Madrid with only Dani Carvajal as a natural right-back option. Nacho Fernandez could, in theory, serve as the backup but a new signing for the position cannot be ruled out.
