Real Madrid has an insatiable appetite for success. After winning La Copa del Rey (que aburrido...) and the team's 10th Champions League title (por fin!), Real Madrid has opened its wallet for another round of immense spending. Maybe finishing 3rd in La Liga stings.
In a smart piece of business, Real Madrid has signed Toni Kroos for 25M euros or so. Kroos is immensely talented and forecasts to be an important piece of the team for a number of years.
The move, though, is only possible because Real Madrid can spend so much money. Last year, the team signed Illarramendi from Real Sociedad for 33M euros with the idea that Illarramendi would be groomed to be Xabi Alonso's replacement. Furthermore, Real Madrid still has Sami Khedira under contract, although there are rumors he'll be shipped to England for a transfer fee that nearly equals the cost of Kroos.
In a bit of a confusing move, Real Madrid is allegedly on the verge of signing Keylor Navas, 27, the fantastic Costa Rican keeper. Casillas, 33, and Lopez, 32, aren't getting any younger, so it makes sense for RM to poach Navas from Levante. Navas may be a bargain for 10M euros, but that price is just a fraction of what RM will spend this off-season.
Any day this week, Real Madrid is set to announce the signing of James, the 22-year-old Colombian winger who was the sensation of this World Cup. I suppose that Real Madrid had to one-up Barcelona again: last year, Real Madrid landed Bale after Barcelona signs Neymar; this year, Real Madrid will acquire James after Barca nabs Suarez. The price tap will be, more or less, 80M euros.
The word is that Di Maria wants out, and that James will take Di Maria's spot on the roster. Isco, another player RM picked up last year for 30M euros, seems set to be the first guy off the bench.
In a smart piece of business, Real Madrid has signed Toni Kroos for 25M euros or so. Kroos is immensely talented and forecasts to be an important piece of the team for a number of years.
The move, though, is only possible because Real Madrid can spend so much money. Last year, the team signed Illarramendi from Real Sociedad for 33M euros with the idea that Illarramendi would be groomed to be Xabi Alonso's replacement. Furthermore, Real Madrid still has Sami Khedira under contract, although there are rumors he'll be shipped to England for a transfer fee that nearly equals the cost of Kroos.
In a bit of a confusing move, Real Madrid is allegedly on the verge of signing Keylor Navas, 27, the fantastic Costa Rican keeper. Casillas, 33, and Lopez, 32, aren't getting any younger, so it makes sense for RM to poach Navas from Levante. Navas may be a bargain for 10M euros, but that price is just a fraction of what RM will spend this off-season.
Any day this week, Real Madrid is set to announce the signing of James, the 22-year-old Colombian winger who was the sensation of this World Cup. I suppose that Real Madrid had to one-up Barcelona again: last year, Real Madrid landed Bale after Barcelona signs Neymar; this year, Real Madrid will acquire James after Barca nabs Suarez. The price tap will be, more or less, 80M euros.
The word is that Di Maria wants out, and that James will take Di Maria's spot on the roster. Isco, another player RM picked up last year for 30M euros, seems set to be the first guy off the bench.