Why Luis Campos is everything Real Madrid needs

Real Madrid are once again at a crossroads in regards to their roster. There are a host of stars that are aging and some that are surplus to requirements at Los Blancos. With a seemingly necessary revolution required, Real need a steady hand to guide them through this – the one and only name on that list should be Luis Campos.

Campos recently played a part in Lille’s triumphant Ligue 1 title bid this season, he previously also contributed to the Monaco team that stormed to the title a few seasons ago. Simply put, Campos knows how to recruit and build a team.

Campos is famed for his worldwide connections and meticulous style of scouting, he has been previously quoted of keeping his scouts’ reports secret from each other, seeing if they all recommend one particular player: “Everyone ends up giving an opinion about the same player and in this way when three scouts point me to a ‘top talent’ it is time for me to study them as deeply as possible.”

It is this kind of attention to detail that Real so desperately need. Far too often in recent years, Real Madrid have seemingly got player profiles wrong in the way of transfers. Whilst they may both be solid players in their own right – the question had to be asked on the targeting of Eden Hazard and Luka Jovic.

The Belgian, whilst a wonderful player, has never been the goalscoring type. Given his positioning and the tendencies of Karim Benzema, it never seems to completely click into place. The same can be said about Luka Jovic, does he really compliment the system?

With the club in transition, it is imperative they get the transfers right. But beyond that, it is also important to get value for money. Given the club is currently struggling with the impact of the pandemic, the Galactico windows of years gone by are likely not going to be happening.

Luis Campos could bring a new approach that Real Madrid needs

The sentiment of buying smart is something Campos eluded to in an interview:

"“A bad purchase can ruin a club. That is why being a sports director is a very responsible position. And I am one of those who think that we cannot be ‘immune decision makers’. We have to pay for the consequences of our actions. Building a good team means knowing how to put the individual – a piece of the puzzle – at the service of the collective; the complete puzzle. You can buy 11 good players and not build a good team.”"

To get a glimpse of just how good he is at buying with a stringent budget, take a look at the players he has recruited or helped develop: Kylian Mbappé, Thomas Lemar, Fabinho, Bakayoko, Mendy – even at Lille alone, he had a part to play in the careers of Nicolas Pepe, Renato Sanches, Yilmaz, and Victor Osimhen – the majority of this list have since been sold to make a huge profit.

Not only does he have an influence over his teams on the pitch, but even within the dugout too. The Portuguese was key to the appointment of Christophe Galtier, who led Lille to the league title over  PSG, with a fraction of the budget.

Campos’ extensive knowledge, scouting network, and experience could prove a pivotal asset for Real this summer. The club is in need of fresh ideas, a director of football could bring that exact freshness that is required.

Perhaps what is even more interesting, is he already has prior experience of working at the club – coming in as a scout when José Mourinho was at the helm of the club. He already understands the workings of the club and those within it, making him the perfect fit for the role.

As Real Madrid approach the upcoming window, the acquisition of Campos could also help the club achieve a lot of its goals. He maintains a close relationship with Mbappé, a longtime target for Los Blancos. He has helped mastermind and create the only two teams to take the stranglehold of the Ligue 1 title away from PSG.

Florentino and Co. may not have the facilities to make a host of Galactico signings, but he could certainly make one in Luis Campos. Every time he commits to a project, he not only performs, but he also makes it a success. Pair him with Zidane, who also has a proven eye for talent, Real Madrid could very well find themselves heading into this transition with a very strong hand.