Who Are Real Madrid? A Modern Update.

by Adam Grunwerg
(Sheffield, UK)

9 time winners of the European Cup, a record 31 La Liga titles and an illustrious list of former galacticos players no one would ruminate or think twice about including in their 21st century all star team of the year; Raul, Roberto Carlos, Ronaldo, Zidane, Beckham. An impressive history of achievement able to lure even Player of the Year Ronaldo to its own grasps, a seemingly insuperable spot in terms of revenue and global branding success, but why all the deference and adoration now?
Facts are facts, Real Madrid or ?Los Galacticos? have not won a Champions League title since 2002. After an era of farcical transfer spending, bringing in players like Beckham and record signing Zidane, Madrid failed to win a single trophy for 3 years following their 2003 La Liga title. In truth, the last time they reached the Quarter Finals in the coveted Champions League competition, where anyone who?s anyone competes, was way back in 2004, 5 scorn years ago.
Indeed, Though Perez?s successful off-field plans and branding success ended Manchester United?s eight-year reign as the biggest earners in world football, Perez himself became disparaged and criticized for his failure to bring on-field success to the same level achieved in marketing and commercial areas.
However, I begin to ask myself as a football analyst and endeared lover of the game, where does success come from?
We?ve all heard too much about the reprobate and incorrigible element of money in the game, that those who have the most can buy their way to success, clearly however, Madrid?s analysis brings consternation to this view. While many lower league clubs and especially Liverpool and Aston Villa supporters launch jeremiads and arguments based on the simple fact that they can?t compete with Man United and Chelsea from a financially viable stand-point, this clearly doesn?t prove suffice. Be it a lassitude argument on stadium capacity leading to less money, or rich owners willing to plunge money into clubs like a hobby, finance has other sources.
While football supporters and world leaders scorn at Madrid?s absurd actions paying ridiculous prices for footballers including £80 million for Ronaldo and £50 million for Kaka, all in the same week during such ?economic situations?, one need not observe the facts far before proving such opinions, and they are just opinions, parochial. The truth is, while clubs like Manchester United receive £50million in shirt deals over 3 or 4 year deals, in 2007 Real Madrid secured an image rights deal with Adidas worth 762 million Euros. Call it what you want, but this is business acumen, off-field leadership and commercial success at its finest puritanical form. Although the Abramovich?s and Saudi Sheikhs of the world may be turning football clubs into capricious unstable entities, I assure you the situation at Madrid is no such thing. In the 21st century, while United were focusing on the Glazer takeover controversy, and Chelsea were waiting to see who Claudio and Abramovich brought to the club next, Madrid were viciously securing commercial markets in the Far East and India, where support for clubs was so fickle it could be bought, and bought it was. Economists estimated back in 2003 when Beckham was bought for an extravagant £36 million, an estimated £400 million was made from merchandising and commercial success directed at the Beckham brand alone.
While Real Madrid are clearly in a vehement state of mind to overthrow their arch enemies, their bête noire Barcelona for La Liga, they are clearly in a position to do so. Unlike the Liverpool FCs? and Fiorentinas? of the footballing world, Real Madrid are in the salient monetary position to do the business. Unlike Manchester City, not only do they have the money and cash but the history and legacy bring players in and follow deals through. After Barcelona?s unprecedented record Spanish treble including La Liga, Copa De La Liga and the Champions League in 2009, I have no doubt Real Madrid will emerge as the team to play for in the next few seasons. Maybe Ronaldo knows something we all don?t, but judging by these facts, he doesn?t need to.