Ultimately, Manchester United pipping Real Madrid to signing Leny Yoro is not good news for the Spanish and European champions. Everyone who is anyone has earmarked Yoro as one of the best central defenders of the next decade if nothing goes wrong, but the way the deal worked out shows just how healthy Los Blancos are.
Granted, they might have been a touch miserly on this one. Real Madrid’s offer was reportedly less than of half of Manchester United’s, and while it is good to stick to strategy and a budget, there is something to be said for even a slightly concocted leap of faith, to keep Yoro in this case hooked on the idea. The sort you might need to get into kg time live.
Nevertheless Real Madrid are in a situation where in repeated cases beforehand, such as Endrick Felipe, Arda Guler and Kylian Mbappe, players are under the impression they have to both accept a lower offer, and follow the club’s instructions in order to join them. Even Jude Bellingham turned down more lucrative offers in his native country in order to join Los Blancos.
So coveted has a spot in the Real Madrid squad become in recent years, that players will take deals that are objectively bad given their market value. The Yoro situation is now an illustration for the next young talent that wants to move to Madrid: either you do things our way, or you won’t be coming to the Santiago Bernabeu.
It’s a risky strategy in a sense, as there is always a chance that a Yoro or a Guler decides differently, is sold on money or another project. It continues to aid the myth-building of Los Blancos though, and underlines the message Florentino Perez wants to send, that Real Madrid is an exclusive club, that they choose you, and moving there is operating in a different sphere of football, where elsewhere only money is important. Neither is the pay bad, but at Real Madrid, you can have it all.
This idea, the image being projected by a club that has won two Champions Leagues in three years without necessarily looking like one of the greatest teams in history, is in part dependent on continued success. Should the titles and the Champions Leagues slip away, so does their place in the heirarchy.
Still, as much as Yoro might be one of the best of his generation, there will be more brilliant central defenders. They might not be at Real Madrid this season, but there is a small chance that the difference between Yoro and whomever else they select and sign moves the needle dramatically for Los Blancos. There are many central defenders, perhaps only a handful that makes sense for Carlo Ancelotti’s side, but only one Real Madrid.
President Perez rarely tires of talking about how Los Blancos can compete with the petrol oil-magnates and state clubs, but off the back of their European success, Real Madrid have found a formula. Real Madrid sign players that money can’t buy – see Kylian Mbappe – losing out on Yoro maintains that position.
