Real Madrid academy continues to fund summer squad rebuild as sales close in on €200 million
Real Madrid’s academy continues to prove one of the club’s greatest financial assets.
With Gonzalo García’s move to Fulham now agreed and Cesar Palacios expected to follow soon, Los Blancos are closing in on €200 million generated from academy player sales this summer alone, smashing every previous club record, reports AS.
The figure had already surpassed the previous benchmark of €102 million, set in the summer of 2017. Now, with more departures still expected before the transfer window closes, the total could rise even further.
Gonzalo deal almost complete
Gonzalo has become one of the biggest academy sales in Real Madrid history.
The striker is set to join Fulham in a deal worth €40 million plus a further €2 million in bonuses, with the club selling 70% of his sporting rights while retaining a 30% stake.
The forward did not train with the squad to avoid risking the transfer before its completion.
Set to join Fulham. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
Real Madrid view the move as an ideal opportunity for Gonzalo to continue his development while ensuring they remain in control of part of his future through a preferential buy-back clause and their retained percentage, which could also generate income from any future sale.
Palacios expected to follow
Meanwhile, Palacios is also expected to move to Fulham, although negotiations are progressing at a slower pace.
The deal is anticipated to be worth between €8 million and €10 million, including performance-related bonuses.
Like Gonzalo’s transfer, Real Madrid are expected to retain a percentage of the player’s rights as well as preferential future options.
Record-breaking income
Including Gonzalo’s transfer, Real Madrid’s academy departures this summer have already generated approximately €175.5 million.
Nico Paz alone fetched €60 million. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Along with Gonzalo, those deals include: Nico Paz, Victor Munoz, Mario Gila, Alvaro Rodriguez, Alex Jimenez, Fran Garcia, Mario Martin, Victor Valdepenas.
Once Palacios’ transfer is completed, that figure is expected to rise to around €185.5 million.
More deals to come
The club’s academy sales are unlikely to stop there.
Forward Jacobo Ortega is close to joining Strasbourg in a deal worth around €8 million for 50% of his rights. If completed, Real Madrid’s academy sales would climb to approximately €193.5 million.
Meanwhile, negotiations continue with Sevilla over goalkeeper Fran Gonzalez. Talks have slowed over the transfer fee and sporting conditions, but there remains confidence that an agreement will eventually be reached.
Should that move also be completed, Real Madrid would move even closer to the remarkable €200 million mark, with an entire month still remaining in the transfer window.
