Real Madrid are preparing one of the costliest midwinter transfer campaigns in football history, with plans to spend up to 23 million euros on two young South Americans while having already confirmed the signing of Brazilian left back Marcelo.
The club announced Tuesday that Marcelo, 18, has agreed to a five-and-a-half-year contract. Real reportedly paid Rio side Fluminense around 6 million euros for the Brazilian international, who is widely regarded as the long-term replacement for veteran defender Roberto Carlos. His arrival brings the number of Brazilians at the club to seven.
Argentine midfielder Fernando Gago, 21, is also a target, with his club Boca Juniors seeking roughly 16 million euros. River Plate forward Gonzalo Higuain, 18, could cost around 9 million euros.
The spending adds to more than 70 million euros Real invested in transfers during the summer, pushing their annual outlay well beyond 100 million euros. Real currently sit third in La Liga, behind Barcelona and Sevilla.
Critics have questioned the strategy: a Valencia-based sports publication argued that heavy winter spending signals a failure of planning, while a Catalan broadcaster cautioned that bringing in multiple young players mid-season risks inflating fan expectations prematurely.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in November 2006, in its own words.