Real Madrid: The allure of this club will never fade away

The White Shirt. The same one that has forged its name in history, created legends, embodied excellence and demanded respect shines with the crest which has become synonymous with royalty over the years. The Santiago Bernabeu, a home that has hosted the biggest names in world football since the beginning continues to nurture the legends of tomorrow. Walk onto the pitch and you can still hear echoes of some of the biggest names in Real Madrid history who have made their mark on this team.

Thirteen UEFA Champions League trophies stand together in a line as you make your way through the stadium to instantly show that this club is not only one of the greats but its demands of each and every single player is warranted. 34 La Liga trophies cement the club’s excellence domestically throughout all the years.

Add to that the seven FIFA Club World Cups, four European Super Cups, 19 Spanish Cups and 11 Spanish Super Cups and you understand the magnitude of this club. Ask why a player dreams of playing for Real Madrid and the history of its success and the promise of more speaks for itself.

This success has not come without its perks as Real Madrid’s famous Galacticos era was a symbol of the money, fame and recognition they had. Since then, a different transfer approach has been taken. However, that hasn’t stopped them from chasing some of the biggest names as we saw with Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Xabi Alonso and Karim Benzema all arriving in the summer of 2009 and more recently, the purchase of Eden Hazard and the continuous chase of Kylian Mbappe.

You look at the current squad and you can see that the recent economical hits from the Covid-19 Pandemic have had a mark. The team could be stronger, there is a lot of focus on youngsters as ‘new signings’ while the movement in the transfer market has been low for a few seasons now. David Alaba has been the only signing this summer as he arrived for free, yet they have let go of Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane with more to come.

The iconic midfield trio of Carlos Casemiro, Toni Kroos and Luka Modric is still being depended on even though it’s difficult to argue with that as this is the same trio that delivered the three-peat. However, age has played its part and to a certain extent, criticism has found its way into the club as it looks like a plan for their replacements has not fully been formed.

Why do big players choose Real Madrid over other clubs?

This has brought a question to many football fans’ minds as the team chases Mbappe who is currently part of a Paris Saint-Germain team that has added Sergio Ramos, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Achraf Hakimi, Georginio Wijnaldum and Lionel Messi to their ranks this season: Why would Mbappe leave that and join Real Madrid?

The answer is quite simple. PSG (and other clubs) can offer players a lot more than Real Madrid can at the moment when it comes to wages but in reality, that’s about it. None of them has the history that Real Madrid have, none of them has the integrity that this club has. None of them has the “I have reached the top” factor that Los Blancos have. Being chosen to play for Real Madrid is a way of telling you that you have truly made it, it’s the goal for many players and we have seen it before.

Cristiano Ronaldo had it all at Manchester United and decided to leave and join a Real Madrid side that was struggling. He knew that it wouldn’t be an easy project but that simply made it more inviting – join the biggest club in the world and be a leader that takes them forward. When he left in 2018, he did so after smashing every possible record with the club as well as individually.

Other players have also made their way to the Spanish capital after leaving their “comfort zone” throughout the years such as Kaka from AC Milan, Fabio Cannavaro from Juventus as well as David Beckham from Manchester United. The most recent case? Eden Hazard choosing to go from Chelsea to our club knowing everything he would be letting go of in London. Leaving your football home is always worth it if you’re going to Real Madrid.

Going back to the most recent case in Kylian Mbappe, you cannot argue with his abilities. In the end, no matter what career path he chooses, he will be remembered in the history books by the time his career reaches its end. However, the books will be different if he stays in France just like it would have been different had Cristiano Ronaldo chosen to stay at Manchester United.

A constant threat up front, he has the chance to put his name next to the greats. Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldo Nazario, Raul Gonzalez, Alfredo Di Stefano, Gareth Bale and many others have already made their mark and putting your name in the same breath as theirs is a type of success that you can only reach when you join Real Madrid and fight for these records.

Real Madrid is the boyhood club for many players around. Getting a call from the team means you have made it to the top. Just like Mbappe grew up idolizing Cristiano Ronaldo, many others have joined the club because they began their careers watching players create magic in the white shirt.

“The Real Madrid shirt is white. It can stain of mud, sweat and even of blood, but never of shame!” are the famous words of the man who has the stadium named after him – Santiago Bernabeu, who was also the President of the club for 33 years.

Real Madrid is an institution and just like any others, it will always have its ups and downs but it will never, ever lose its allure.