Abstract
- Actual Madrid’s Galácticos coverage started within the 2000s, signing elite superstars for enormous charges.
- Zinedine Zidane was certainly one of their greatest signings, profitable the Champions League in 2002.
- The legendary midfielder requested Actual to signal a legendary England participant to be his accomplice in midfield.
Actual Madrid’s superiority was challenged within the early 2000s as Valencia disrupted La Liga’s pure order, and Galácticos legend Zinedine Zidane has revealed he requested the signing of an England legend to place Madrid again on their perch.
Zidane and Actual’s path to the 2001/02 Champions League closing was one of many nice knockout runs in membership soccer historical past, beating Bayern Munich within the quarter-finals and arch-rivals Barcelona within the final 4, earlier than besting an elite Bayer Leverkusen group led by Michael Ballack within the closing.
The French soccer legend scored maybe his most well-known purpose in that closing, volleying dwelling Roberto Carlos’ looped cross from the sting of the field to win the match 2-1.
Nonetheless, that triumph was the beginning of considerably of a trophy drought by Madrid’s personal lofty requirements. They gained the La Liga title the next 12 months, however didn’t win one other high flight title till 2007 and needed to wait till 2011 earlier than their subsequent cup win, which was the Copa del Rey.
Barcelona accompanied English and Italian sides in dominating Europe’s elite competitors, as Actual president Florentino Perez adopted a coverage of celebrity signings to regain their standing as Kings of the continent.
Madrid’s Galácticos 2000-2010 | 12 months | Payment | From |
|---|---|---|---|
Luis Figo | 2000 | €60 million | Barcelona |
Zinedine Zidane | 2001 | €73.5 million | Juventus |
Ronaldo Nazario | 2002 | €45 million | Inter |
David Beckham | 2003 | €37.5 million | Manchester United |
Michael Owen | 2004 | €9 million | Liverpool |
Robinho | 2005 | €24 million | Santos |
Sergio Ramos | 2005 | €27 million | Sevilla |
Fabio Cannavaro | 2006 | €10 million | Juventus |
Ruud van Nistelrooy | 2006 | €14 million | Manchester United |
Kaka | 2009 | €67 million | Milan |
Karim Benzema | 2009 | €30 million | Lyon |
Cristiano Ronaldo | 2009 | €94 million | Manchester United |
Xabi Alonso | 2009 | €35.5 million | Liverpool |
Perez made a behavior of luring the Premier League’s high abilities to the Spanish capital, with Xabi Alonso revealing how Actual tempted him: “I used to be actually pleased with the group (Liverpool) and my team-mates and felt that we may do nice issues.
“I used to be joyful on that aspect however inside a membership it’s a must to see the massive image and one other season would have been an excessive amount of for me. It was very tough to take that call (to depart) nevertheless it was most likely for the most effective for me as a result of if I had stayed one other season it will have been uncomfortable for me.”
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Nonetheless, not everybody caved to the temptation, with Zidane revealing he particularly requested Perez to signal Steven Gerrard, just for the Liverpool captain to refuse the transfer.
Zidane names Gerrard the most effective participant on the planet
Certainly, Actual Madrid tried to signal Gerrard as soon as in 2005 and once more in 2009, doubtlessly making him certainly one of their greatest signings of the Galácticos period, and Zidane claims it was him who pushed Perez to make the transfer, as he believed the Reds star was the primary participant in world soccer.
“In his prime, Gerrard was the most effective on the planet. I believe it was in the summertime of 2004 once I had a dialog with Florentino (Perez) & informed him that I needed him to be my accomplice in Madrid’s midfield.
“I do know the membership tried twice, however he didn’t wish to go away Liverpool. There aren’t many gamers who reject Actual Madrid, however I believe that claims loads in regards to the particular person’s loyalty.”
Gerrard is extensively thought to be top-of-the-line midfielders in Premier League historical past regardless of by no means profitable a league title with Liverpool, whereas his finest end on the Ballon d’Or podium was third in 2005, inserting behind Ronaldinho and Frank Lampard.
There is no doubt the Liverpool celebrity was let down by his teammates within the quest so as to add group trophies to his particular person accolades, and one has to surprise how his standing within the sport can be seen if he had joined Madrid at Zidane’s request.
