From Zidane to Vinícius: the reinvention of Real Madrid
Jude Bellingham became available last year, Madrid were able to sign him. Mr Pérez also appears to have finally found a coach, Carlo Ancelotti, whom he likes. The avuncular Italian is more tactically flexible than other elite coaches, such as Pep Guardiola, of Manchester City, or Jürgen Klopp, until recently of Liverpool, and therefore more amenable to accommodating the club’s latest starlet.
Few managers can cope with the pressure of coaching Los Merengues. Mr Ancelotti seems to be doing so with aplomb. The travails of Madrid’s European rivals show the strength of their position.
Barcelona have sold hundreds of millions of euros of future income just to remain in business. Manchester City have been charged by their domestic league with 115 breaches of league regulations (the club denies wrongdoing). PSG are losing their star player, Kylian Mbappé of France, probably to Real.
With a young squad, the right coach and an enviable financial position, the club once incapable of thinking ahead is now in the perfect place for long-term success. © 2024, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com
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