Soccer 23 Jun 2009 03:04 pm
Return of the Galacticos?
Real Madrid CF kicked off the transfer season by snatching Brazilian superstar, Kaka, from AC Milan on June 8. The attacking midfielder was bought for a reported €67.2 million, the first signing for newly-elected team president, Florentino Perez. Then, Perez followed up his daring transfer by buying arguably the best player in the world, Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo’s transfer fee from Manchester United FC was a reported €94 million, which would make the Portuguese winger the most expensive player in soccer history. 
It is quite clear from these two ambitious transfers on the part of Perez that his club is committed to an upcoming season of excellence. In the club’s mind, the way to get back to the top of the Spanish Primera and to Champions League glory is to spend and then spend some more. The acquisition of both Kaka and Ronaldo brings back memories of Real Madrid’s glory days earlier in this decade, with the likes of Zinedine Zidane, Luis Figo, and Ronaldo wearing the team colors.
However, despite these two acquisitions, the club is still a long way from a championship season in Spain and in Europe. The reason for this is the vulnerability of its back line.
Especially after the departure of Fabio Cannavaro, who went back to Juventus FC, Real is lacking a big-name stopper in the back. Sergio Ramos, the speedy right-back, is not as talented at stopping others as he is moving forward. And, as of now, the club’s best central defender is Pepe, who recently contemplated retirement altogether. In order to address this glaring weakness, Perez will have to invest money in defenders (preferably a younger defender, like Giorgio Chiellini of Juventus), just like he did in midfielders this past month.
Fortunately for Real Madrid supporters, it has become quite clear that their president is a fan of spending money, so it is not a long shot to think that he could sign a star defender to compliment the club’s bolstered midfield. If he does so, look for Real Madrid to return to its glory days of the early 21st century.
The entire sport of soccer should certainly look forward to that day as well. The sport is on a completely different level if Real Madrid is strong, just like baseball is on a different level if the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees are strong and basketball is on a different level if the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers are strong. So, my message to Perez is to keep on shopping.