We all know that whenever Florentino Pérez makes the news, the entire football world stops, and it is usually packed with bombshells.
Yesterday, alongside his attacks on his rival and presidential candidate Riquelme, Florentino dropped another one: he wants to make the most expensive signing in Real Madrid history, with figures reportedly around €150 million or more. At the same time, he was smart enough to narrow the field without giving away the name. He did not reveal who the player is, but he described exactly what he is looking for and who it is not.
Florentino said it would be a midfielder or attacker, someone who does not play in the Premier League, who is at a top Champions League club, who is young, and who is not Kane, Doku, Olise or Haaland. With that in mind, there are two obvious names: Vitinha and João Neves, both Portuguese, which only reinforces how absurdly strong Portugal’s midfield could be at the World Cup.
Pedri can also be mentioned, although I think that is practically impossible, and perhaps Pavlovic from Bayern Munich.
Florentino also said that this is a signing on the level of Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaká. In other words, we are talking about the very best of the best, players who were considered the best in the world in their positions. Because of that, it really does come down to Vitinha and João Neves.
But there is a problem here: I do not see either of them wanting to leave the environment they currently have at PSG. They are playing for a team that wins almost everything and has just secured back-to-back Champions League titles. Leaving that for a Real Madrid side currently living through a certain level of chaos, even if it is Real Madrid, is not such an obvious decision.
From the players’ perspective, the question makes sense: why leave? They have already spoken about wanting a third consecutive Champions League title. There is ambition, there is hunger and there is nothing missing in that regard. From Real Madrid’s perspective, I think a player like Vitinha makes more sense. Someone who brings calm, control and rhythm, someone who can organise the game, rather than João Neves. That is not about undervaluing anyone, it is about looking at the team’s problems and recognising that Vitinha seems to fit the needs better.
Florentino’s idea is a good one. It shows that he still knows exactly what he is doing. And this is also where the difference between him and Riquelme becomes clear: identifying and approaching targets intelligently. That was precisely the mistake made by his opponent. Even so, I do not believe this move will succeed.
Conclusion
Vitinha and João Neves are world-class players, but I do not know to what extent they would be willing to leave a historic PSG side, with a fantastic environment and huge momentum, for a Real Madrid squad full of stars, which is already part of the problem, and a club that has not won truly major trophies for two consecutive seasons.