• Real Madrid have been linked to two of the most highly rated footballers in the world, with both set to cost huge money.
  • Zinedine Zidane has advised the club to prioritize Neymar over Paul Pogba.

It is a well established fact that Real Madrid have the deepest pockets in world football. They’ve held the record for most expensice transfer fee paid since  year 2000, successively breaking the record by signing Luis Figo, Zinedine Zidane, Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale. They look set to break the ceiling once again this summer, but it’s a toss up between two of the most highly rated young players in world football.

Real Madrid are in hot pursuit of the Paul Pogba, willing to pay more than €100 million to bring him to Spain. Pogba has become the lynchpin of a dominant Juventus side in the Serie A, with the former Manchester United midfielder catching the eye with some magnificent crosses and goals.

That’s not the only big money signing that Real are considering. Brazil capatin Neymar is speculated to leave Barcelona and their bitter local rivals have been courting the 24 year old striker for quite some time now. Neymar has a release clause of €190 million, which would shatter the world transfer fee record if Los Blancos were to trigger it. It is difficult to choose between them, as both players have the skill and ability to become the best in the world in a few years time.

However, Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane seems to have made his choice between the two footballers. Renowned Spanish football journalist Eduardo Inda has revealed that Zidane doesn’t want Real to do ‘crazy things’ to sign Paul Pogba, according to Diario Madrista.

“Zidane has told the club not to do crazy things for Pogba. The problem there is that the Frenchman costs between €130 and €140 million and his agent Mino Raiola’s commission is €27 million. Madrid, seeing the situation that has arisen that could allow them to sign Neymar for a little more, have resumed the operation(negotiations) and are taking it seriously,” revealed Inda. [english translated verison]

He also addressed the interest shown by PSG, saying that Neymar would probably choose Madrid instead.

“It’s not an impossible operation for the club. The important thing is to pay the termination clause and Neymar, between playing in a straightforward league like the French and a competitive one like Spain, will obviously want to stay here.” [english translated verison]

Two Galacticos in one season is difficult

FIFA Ballon d'Or award

Real Madrid had reverted back to their strategy of signing a world class top rated player every season, after Perez came back to the help in 2009.

Luis Figo, Zinedina Zidane, Ronaldo, David Beckham and Walter Samuel were all purchased by Real for big money, each consecutive season between 2000 and 2004. The sacking of president Florentino Perez in 2006 was followed by his reinstatement in 2009, which led to a second era of the Galacticos.

This time around, Real Madrid brought in Cristiano Ronaldo and Galactico manager Jose Mourinho in subsequent years, followed by the likes of Angel di Maria, Sami Khedira and Karim Benzema. However, Real have never brought in two signings of more than €80 million in one season.

It looked like this might change in 2016, as they were continually linked with both Paul Pogba and Neymar. The two young footballers would cost Real a combined €350 million in transfer fees. This massive amount would surely break all kinds of financial records. However,  Zidane has now appealed for a modicrum of sanity which will most probably see Real give up on this truly ‘crazy’ pursuit of two Galacticos in one season.

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