Real Madrid have had quite a summer. Their massive spending has induced shrill screams of indignation and foretellings of doom from most of us and our pet budgies. Labels ranging from the mild ‘unprincipled’ to the vitriolic ‘scum’ have been slapped on them with cheerful nonchalance. Even pontiff Platini of UEFA has felt the need to wade in with his tuppenceworth. The wave of antipathy that is directed at Real seems to unify widely disparate sections of the footballing spectrum, who whatever our differences on most other issues, all agree that there is something unsound and corrupt about the way Real are aiming to win their tenth. Indeed, a large number of us even seem to look upon the acquisitions as a personal insult and wait with anticipation for the experiment to fail so that we may rejoice gleefully at the fall of ‘the evil empire’. Viewed from a broad perspective, especially for those of us somewhat more financially challenged than the millionaires of Real, this is quite a natural reaction. What gives them the right to showcase their apparent opulence at a time when the rest of the world is struggling to get by ? And while their activities are admittedly quite annoying when viewed from this perspective, a deeper examination of the state of big football clubs today and perhaps a measure of introspection might lead us to question some of our viewpoints.
Let us begin by looking at the very fundamental question of why the really big football clubs exist? What in other words is their raison d’être? This is actually not a particularly easy question to answer and can draw a wide variety of responses. Certainly common among them will be bringing joy to the fans and providing local youngsters the opportunity to play the game. Making money for their owners probably wouldn’t figure in that list. Yet it is in many ways evident, particularly in the English premier league that this is the ultimate objective which clubs now serve. Who then believes that Malcolm Glazer really cares about the cheers of the Stretford end or that Messrs Gillet and Hicks really lose sleep over the happiness rating of the kop faithful.
Compare that to the way Real Madrid have done it. While the signings have been made with an eye on the commercial potential of the players, the only purpose of that is to try and keep the club solvent by bringing in money. The money that Real make, and don’t forget until last year they made more of it than any other club in the world, is therefore used purely and simply to fulfill previously stated objectives. The banks have for reasons best known to themselves agreed to foot the bill for Real’s spending spree, but how exactly is that a concern of ours? What is also to be remembered is that these banks include Santander, one of the very few to emerge from the recession stronger than it went in. And speaking of relying on dodgy financial firms, who was it that AIG was giving millions of pounds of it’s money to, even as it’s investors were losing all of theirs ?
Certainly, the quality of the players signed is beyond doubt, and so is the fact that if they do start to gel they will produce some devastating football. And, after a season of humiliation and despair, this is what the fans of Real Madrid needed. This club exists therefore to serve it’s fans. This, coupled with the philosophy of unwavering commitment to attacking football that is historically associated with the club is added reason for the fan of the beautiful game to love rather than loathe Real Madrid.
Another accusation of those who love to hate the blancos is that they prise away, with the aid of the filthy lucre, players who have been nurtured and groomed by other clubs. And this makes less sense than anything else, because not only do Real pay more than fair price for any player they sign, their signings are usually established footballers who have already served their clubs for some period with distinction. So is there a moral high ground to be claimed by a club which on the one hand berates Real for inflating the transfer market and at the same is accused of offering monetary inducements to 14-15 year old kids from lesser teams to sign on for them? Remember, most of these kids will fall by the wayside and end up with little. And when the odd one does blossom and turn into a quality player, the manager is praised for his ‘eye for talent’, for being shrewd and not falling into the trap of spending big money.
Another argument against Real’s policies is that as a result of their signings, their own youngsters get little opportunity. And yet, no less than five players from the academy (Casillas, Arbeloa, Granero, Guti and Raul) and eight Spanish players (+Xabi Alonso, Raul Albiol, Sergio Ramos) have already started for Real in the primera liga this season. This is significantly higher than that of most other top European clubs. A number of the academy players have had stints with other teams before breaking into the Real first team, but that is only to be expected and ultimately, they are Madridistas playing for Madrid.
Naturally, we are predisposed to dislike the idea of something being won with no effort, without blood, sweat and toil. And it won’t be. Real have the players, not yet a team. And if they do indeed manage to forge a team capable of winning titles, it is not for us to hate them for it. For by their spree we have something to look forward to. Whatever may be the financial implications, from a football fan’s perspective, the idea of Kaka, Ronaldo, Benzema and Alonso playing together is an enthralling one especially considering who they’re up against. El Classico can’t come soon enough!
