Real Madrid top recruitment bill

Sport360 staff 19:45 24/10/2016
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Real Madrid buying young: Los Blancos follow a transfer policy.

    The figures relate to Zinedine Zidane’s current squad as the New data Issue number 162 of the CIES Football Observatory Weekly Post puts Real ahead of their rivals in recognising talent early, buying potential and turning stars into world-class performers so that they can enjoy their peak years at the Santiago Bernabeu.

    What have you made of Madrid’s transfer business down the years?

    Share with us your thoughts by commenting below, using #360fans on Twitter or getting in touch via Facebook.

    Here’s a rundown of Real Madrid’s recruitment and the signings that fit into the age demographic aforementioned:

    Marcelo joined the Whites in January 2007 as an 18-year-old from Fluminense – evidence Madrid spotted his talent quickly and his ability to be a long-term replacement for Roberto Carlos.

    Isco joined Real in 2013 at the of 21 after impressing for Malaga – another acquisition where raw talent was put above actual game time on the field.

    Real Madrid bought back right full-back Daniel Carvajal after he spent only one season with Bayer Leverkusen in 2013 – he was 21 at the time.

    #M12

    A photo posted by Marcelo Vieira Jr. (@marcelotwelve) on

    Club captain Sergio Ramos is also another classic example – a man they signed as a teenager in 2005 having spotted his incredible rise to stardom at Sevilla.

    Ramos’ defensive partner, Pepe, although a bit older at the time of signing being 24, has been great business for the La Liga giants and enjoyed his peak years at the club since 2007.

    The average age was kept down through the acquisition of Raphael Varane from French champions Lens, who was a teenager when he made the move.

    24-year-old Toni Kroos joined Madrid back in 2014 – and is an example of a talent purchase the other side of the 22.5 years scale.

    Real Madrid signed a 21-year-old Mateo Kovacic from Inter, showcasing the club’s scouting network being hard at work across rival European leagues.

    Marco Asensio joined the capital club from Real Mallorca for an undisclosed fee as an 18-year-old striker.

    Felicidades a la mejor persona y al mejor padre del mundo. ¡Te quiero peque!

    A photo posted by Marco Asensio (@marcoasensio10) on

    Brazilian full-back Danilo linked-up with the Whites as a 23-year-old in 2015 and has proved to be a very useful player.

    Compatriot Casemiro arrived earlier in 2013, and was 21 at the time he put pen to paper.

    23-year-old Fabio Coentrao joined Madrid from Benfica in 2011 but has struggled to be a first-team regular.

    👟⚽️💪🏽

    A photo posted by Casemiro (@casemiro_oficial) on

    Karim Benzema made the move to Spain as a 21-year-old in July 2009 and has more than repaid Madrid’s trust in him, with his goals return in support of Cristiano Ronaldo proving crucial in recent years despite some criticism he has received.

    And finally, Colombia forward James Rodriguez arrived after the 2014 World Cup, with the playmaker being 23 at the time.

    The data was collated across 98 clubs from the five major European leagues – with English Premier League and Bundesliga sides featuring heavily in the top ten.

    Top-10-European-Leagues

    The report also found that top clubs focus their recruitment on buying hot talent from than less competitive teams.

    wp162_dk_en

    The CIES Football Observatory is a research group within the International Centre for Sports Studies (CIES). Created in 2005 by Dr. Raffaele Poli and Dr. Loïc Ravenel, the CIES Football Observatory currently comprises a staff of four full-time permanent researchers who specialise in the statistical analysis of football.

    Click here to visit their website.

    Recommended