Los Blancos are coming off a treble-winning season in 2023/2024, which saw them crowned Spanish and European kings for record-extending 36th and 15th times respectively. ..Read Full Article
Though many may argue that Carlo Ancelotti’s talent-packed outfit is fine as it is and doesn’t need tinkering with, which is something that soon-to-be-retired club legend Toni Kroos implied himself, President Florentino Perez remains keen to make Galactico signings that will hopefully help extend Madrid’s domestic and continental dominance.
This summer, Perez has finally landed his white whale in acquiring perhaps the biggest Galactico of them all in Kylian Mbappe.
After two failed attempts to lure him in 2017 and 2022, the next generation superstar seems to have officially joined from Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer and can now be found on the club’s website in the men’s first team squad area to support this belief.
By his side in the attackers department is Brazilian Palmeiras-produced prodigy Endrick.
The 17-year-old’s capture was far more straightforward than Mbappe’s, in that Perez simply agreed to buy him for a fee that could reach north of $60 million in late 2022.
Owing to FIFA rules, Endrick cannot cross the Atlantic until he turns 18, which he will later this month after also contesting the ongoing edition of the Copa America in the United States for the Brazil national team.
An interesting takeaway is that neither new signing has a number assigned to them as things stand.
It was previously reported by OK Diario that Mbappe would take Luka Modric’s number 10 shirt at a time when the Croat looked certain to leave the club when his contract expired on June 30.
Modric is now expected to extend for at least another year, however, which might mean Mbappe initially dons the number 9 that remained vacant last term following Karim Benzema’s departure to Saudi Arabia.
Out-and-out striker Endrick could have been a prime candidate to take the number 9 had Mbappe been awarded the 10.
If Mbappe wears the 9 this upcoming season, though, Endrick can take another free number ahead of Modric probably departing 12 months from now.
When that development occurs, Endrick could then take the 9 as Mbappe is awarded Modric’s iconic jersey.
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