Real Madrid have significantly reduced their transfer budget in recent years compared to the Galacticos era, but have still managed to attract some of the world’s best talent. From English sensation Bellingham to Brazilian prodigy Endrick, Real remain the club with the biggest appeal in the small world of football, even when other clubs offer more lucrative financial packages.
Madrid’s acquisition of Jude Bellingham in 2023 for £88.5m is already being hailed as a masterstroke. Mbappe, meanwhile, was a free transfer after leaving Paris Saint-Germain in June, although Real would still have paid a generous £120m signing bonus. Similarly, the signings of Brazilian stars Endrick, Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr have further underlined Real Madrid’s ability to attract future stars at reasonable prices compared to the exorbitant figures seen elsewhere.
Spanish football expert Guillem Balague believes the appeal of wearing the famous white shirt, combined with the club’s rich history and unprecedented ambitions, has enabled Real Madrid to bring stars to the Santiago Bernabeu.
A question of prestige
In an interview with FourFourTwo, Balague explained: “
Prestige. We have seen time and time again that when it comes to prestige, Real Madrid are ahead of everyone else. Mbappé, Endrick, Bellingham and other stars could have gone anywhere and earned more money elsewhere. However, the white jersey, the history and the ambition of Real Madrid are things that no other club can compete with. They remain the biggest attraction.
Despite being named the world’s richest football club by Forbes in July 2024 – with a staggering £713m in revenue for the 2023-24 season – Real Madrid’s finances aren’t as smooth as you might think. The club has had to balance significant debt, comply with strict UEFA profitability rules and fund the massive £1.5bn renovation of the Santiago Bernabeu stadium, which was completed in September 2023. It also has to compete with billionaire owners or state-funded projects, making its operations even more difficult.
“In terms of on-field success, marketing and merchandise, it is ahead of its rivals,” explains Balague. ”
But it is competing with clubs backed by billionaires and entire states: like Manchester City, PSG, even Newcastle. They are not able to offer the kind of fees that others can. The European Super League is seen as a way to redress that balance.”
