Rebuilding Madrid, One Pass at a Time - The Transfers, Rumors & Lies Thread

I think you can look at the signings and the neae absolute refusal to address the defense issues sans free transfers as a sign.

 

we spent over 120 million in transfers for the defense last summer between Huijsen Carreras and Trent. We’ve spent another 60 million there already this summer in defense transfers plus Konate and Dumfries. So where is the idea that it’s just free transfers?

Again, I just don’t understand where people are getting the idea that we don’t have money to spend. We have a finite amount of roster spots, but transfer costs have never been an insurmountable hurdle. 2 summers ago we bought Mbappe and Endrick. 3 summers ago we bought Jude for 9 figures and offered 200 million for Mbappe. 4 summers ago we bought Tchouameni for 9 figures.

 

I don’t know where you saw this messaging. The 150 million figure came from Florentino saying we were going to offer that for 1 player and we publicly admitted to doing so with Julian, not that it would be the entire spending budget.

 

That could very well happen for numerous reasons, but again you have not demonstrated anything to indicate we don’t have the financial means to make a transfer happen

 

Whether we were serious on a bid for him or not, show me where it’s demonstrable that the coffers are empty. Apparently we have 150 million for unserious bids

 

That's a sign that defense has been lesser priority while club had 130 ME to spend on 18 year old projects like Endrick and Franco.

 

Balague spread this narrative when RM made the bid for Mbappe. RM can't afford with stadium renovation cost yada yada. Only thing mattered was PSG weren't gonna accept selling.

Let's make this fair. RM was bullshitting through media if Bayern indicate they will accept 225 ME and Florentino chickens out. But if Bayern say not for sale for any fee this summer, it's basically 2021 Mbappe situation.

 

Club made around 145 ME selling players who weren't even in the squad last season except Fran Garcia. Off top of my head, club made 100 ME+ previously by selling only in 2013 (Higuain, Ozil, Callejon, Albiol) and in 2018 thanks to Ronaldo sale. 90 ME+ selling players in 2009.

Florentino wanting to sell minority stakes has to do with his Madrid Innovation District project that's estimated to cost 1.3 billion. One could argue totally non football related project compared to debt clubs take on to renovate or construct mega stadiums.

 

🚨 JUST IN: Real Madrid are VERY CALM and QUIET about Michael Olise.

The club is WAITING for the call from Bayern or Olise.

If it happens, they are READY. @FabrizioRomano pic.twitter.com/Oh4EQqS4dC

— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) July 18, 2026

🚨Claude Makelele has revealed he’s told Florentino Perez to sign Olise.

‘HIM OR NOBODY.’ https://t.co/8feDvI36Gj

— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) July 17, 2026

 

So far the reports that Olise wants to leave Bayern for RM are coming from France (Santi and L'Equipe). Romano hasn't said yet that Olise wants to leave.

 

Manchester United would be the ONLY CLUB that can FINANCIALLY afford a transfer for Vinicius this summer.

The signing bonus, transfer fee, salary, and commissions are all KEY.

Real Madrid's position is CLEAR: RENEWAL or SALE.

@Romain_Molina

💣 El Manchester United sería el ÚNICO CLUB que puede asumir FINANCIERAMENTE un traspaso por Vinicius durante este verano.

💰 Es CLAVE tanto la prima de fichaje, la cuantía del traspaso, el salario y las comisiones.

🔜 El Real Madrid tiene CLARA su postura: RENOVACIÓN o VENTA.… pic.twitter.com/qHxVGfH8oC

— Madridista Hoy (@madridistahoy) July 17, 2026

 

To me it signals the club may have some issues financially. Pointing to 120m spent over two years when the defense is depleted is like calling a 60 dollar oil change an investment when you have a blown head gasket.

Why are we are relying on free transfers and scraping the jar by playing midfielders at RB and CB is again a reason to have some questions. The board pretending Alaba and Mendy are actual depth just forces guys like Dean to come back too soon and get injured again. In any case having a CB who isn't in a wheelchair is a requirement, not a preference so the clubs behavior at a minimum is very odd.

 

If they thought defense was weak and would cost the team winning, they could have invested Franco and Endrick fees there too. RM under this regime has suffered whenever they saw defense as 2nd priority. Goes back to not replacing Hierro, Makelele while being over eger to add Owen, Robinho, Baptista, Cassano etc to already stacked attack. No one said club did it due to lack of funds then as the over investment in attack would prove that theory wrong.

 

I think Franco was a Xabi signing and Endrick may not have been willing to leave and opted to do a loan knowing CA had one foot out the door. And it isn't just about winning, although that is the thing the board cares about the most. The squads ambitions are more than simply qualfiying for CL every year, enough losing and playing out of position at some point has guys considering moves elsewhere.

 

Will be interesting what we will do with Endrick and Gonzalne of them will remain and wait for his opportunity from bench.