Five Galacticos Real Madrid could sign this summer

Carlo Garganese

Updated: 19 Mar 2023 21:06 GMT
4 min read

Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe, 2022/23 — © ProShots

Real Madrid are resurrecting their Galactico policy and aim to once again sign one massive-money footballer this summer.

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After a period of frugality in recent years, Madrid splashed the cash last summer by paying €100 million for Aurelien Tchouameni from Monaco.

According to numerous reports in Spain, this signals a transfer policy shift for Madrid which will see them return to president Florentino Perez’s tradition of signing one Galactico each summer.

So who are the Galactico options this summer?

Kylian Mbappe

Mbappe had seemed destined to join Real Madrid last summer but completed a dramatic turnaround by penning a two-year extension with PSG, with the player having the option for a third. Madrid are now ready to make a new move for Mbappe, who is reported to be growing disillusioned in Paris. Mbappe was a boyhood Madrid fan and this transfer is expected to happen sooner or later. Will it be this summer?

Erling Haaland

Real Madrid are considered the favourites to be Erling Haaland’s next club and he would succeed Karim Benzema, who turned 35 in December. Haaland has a release clause in his Man City contract for foreign clubs that comes into effect in the summer of 2024 that is worth €200 million. A transfer this summer is deemed unlikely but Madrid could give it a go, especially given the off-field problems at City.

Victor Osimhen

Victor Osimhen has exploded into arguably the most complete number 9 in Europe in 2022-23. Osimhen’s goals and lethal partnership with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia have led Napoli to run away with the Serie A title race and challenge in the Champions League. Osimhen has the pedigree to be a Galactico and could quite easily be chosen to succeed Benzema. The Nigerian is known to prefer a transfer to the Premier League, though.

Jude Bellingham

Jude Bellingham is arguably the most wanted man in Europe ahead of the summer transfer window. Every Premier League giant wants to sign him, together with Real Madrid. Liverpool had been considered as favourites for the Borussia Dortmund star due to their excellent relationship with the player and his family. But Madrid have moved ahead in the race, according to other reports. The Blancos wish to sign another top, young central midfielder given Luka Modric and Toni Kroos are ageing and see their contracts expiring.

Alphonso Davies

Real Madrid are looking for a new long-term left-back to have the same impact as former legends Marcelo and Roberto Carlos, and feel that Davies is their man.His contract at the Allianz Arena runs until June 2025, so Real will hope to get him for significantly less than the €72.3m he is rated at by Football Transfers' in-house algorithm if they bid for him one summer out from that.

Achraf Hakimi

According to some reports in Spain, Mbappe has told Real Madrid that he wants them to bring PSG teammate Achraf Hakimi with him to the Santiago Bernabeu. This would make sense as the pair are very good friends and Real Madrid need to sign a new long-term right back given the age of Dani Carvajal and Lucas Vazquez. Hakimi is a former Madrid player and is perhaps the best attacking right-back in the world.

What is a Galactico?

Galactico translates as ‘Galactic’ in Spanish and refers to footballers who are regarded as world-class superstars.

Galacticos are generally attacking or offensive players who move for huge fees, and who get the crowd off their feet.

Real Madrid famously had a Galactico policy at the start of the Millennium during Florentino Perez’s first spell as president of the club.

The policy revolved around signing one Galactico each summer; Luis Figo (2000), Zinedine Zidane (2001), Ronaldo (2002), David Beckham (2003), Michael Owen (2004), Robinho (2005).

© ProShots - Luis Figo was the first Galactico of the century

Perez kicked off a second era of Galacticos when he returned for a second spell as Real Madrid president in 2009.

This saw Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka (2009), Angel Di Maria and Mesut Ozil (2010), Luka Modric (2012), Gareth Bale (2013) and James Rodriguez (2014) arrive as Galacticos.

Madrid’s very first era of Galacticos was in the 1950s and 60s when they won five straight European Cups. This team boasted Galacticos such as Alfredo Di Stefano, Ferenc Puskas and Raymond Kopa.