On January 6, 2019, Brahim Diaz was introduced as a Real Madrid player after a transfer that involved 17 million euros plus seven bonuses from Manchester City. Since then, more than a thousand days have passed, and Florentino Perez has yet again not signed a Spanish footballer for the white squad. (Source: Real Madrid communications archive)
Perez shifted away from relying on a generation built around Galician and Basque roots toward prioritizing a national product in quality and price. The club brought in Sergio Ramos, Xabi Alonso, Arbeloa, Isco, Asensio, Raúl Albiol, Granero, Pedro León, Canales, Diego López, Illarramendi, Vallejo, Kiko Casilla, Odriozola, Morata, among others. Yet in recent seasons Madrid has increasingly looked abroad for reinforcements, signaling a shift away from domestic development. (Source: club transfer records and press coverage)
White looks good on you, atchouameni! #WelcomeTchouameni pic.twitter.com/sVzIp7qSt0
– Real Madrid CF (realmadrid) 14 June 2022 (Source: team social media)
14 signatures and 593 million
The last fourteen transfers by the club totaled about 593.5 million euros, with players born outside of Spain: Tchouameni, Rudiger, Alaba, Camavinga, Renier, Hazard, Militao, Rodrygo, Mendy, Luka Jovic, Vinicius, Courtois, Kubo, and Lunin. Many of these are long-shot bets where the club risks substantial sums. Some, like Vinicius and Rodrygo, have paid off, while others, such as Jovic, Reinier, did not fully justify their price tag. (Source: financial and performance reports)
The challenge is that the first team still lacks a core Spanish presence. This summer saw Isco depart, a lingering sign of the era where Florentino Perez allowed free rein to trial possibilities beyond domestic roots. Other talented players remain, and Daniel Ceballos and Tchouameni’s arrival at Madrid have altered the idea of adding a seventh midfielder, though the prospect may not align with every player’s ambitions. (Source: club press materials and player interviews)
Asensio, paradigmatic situation
There is a paradigmatic case illustrating the shift in Madrid away from Spanish players: Marco Asensio. It remains unclear whether he will stay, despite having one year left on his contract. At the Bernabeu, the Mallorcan striker had a standout season and led the team in goals, yet his influence diminished in league play and he saw limited minutes in Champions League fixtures. Consequently, interest from other clubs such as Milan and Liverpool has emerged as teams assess his situation. (Source: season reports and media coverage)
@isco_alarcon pic.twitter.com/U6NCUMT3lI
– Real Madrid CF (realmadrid) June 1, 2022 (Source: club social media)
Without a quarry
In recent times there are only three Spanish players in the core Real Madrid squad: Carvajal, Nacho, and Lucas Vazquez. Ownership and leadership responsibilities gradually lean toward local players, and Luis Enrique’s national selections reflect a broader caution about Madridistas in national-team pools. The emphasis on homegrown talent is a point of pride for many supporters, even as the realities of the academy system show uneven minutes for academy graduates like Anthony White and Miguel Gutierrez, who have been called up but seldom featured. Sergio Reguilon’s stint at Tottenham and others’ intermittent A-team involvements underscore the broader challenge. (Source: club academy analysis and media commentary)
Some argue the issue lies not with Madrid but with a generation lacking unstable Spanish players. Yet when looking at Camp Nou and the emergence of Pedri, Ansu Fati, and Gavi, that argument gains weight. (Source: federation and club scouting reports)
On January 6, 2019, Brahim Diaz was introduced as a Real Madrid player after a transfer from Manchester City for 17 million euros plus seven bonuses. Since then, more than a thousand days have elapsed, and Florentino Perez has once again not signed a Spanish footballer for the white team. (Source: club announcements)
Perez shifted away from a generation of Galician and Basque influence toward prioritizing domestic products in quality and price. They arrived Sergio Ramos, Xabi Alonso, Arbeloa, Isco, Asensio, Raúl Albiol, Granero, Pedro León, Canales, Diego López, Illarramendi, Vallejo, Kiko Casilla, Odriozola, Morata, among others. Madrid, it seems, has increasingly chosen to strengthen with international players. (Source: transfer histories and press summaries)
White looks good on you, atchouameni! #WelcomeTchouameni pic.twitter.com/sVzIp7qSt0
– Real Madrid CF (realmadrid) 14 June 2022 (Source: club social media)
14 signatures and 593 million
The club’s last fourteen signings total around 593.5 million euros, with players born outside Spain: Tchouameni, Rudiger, Alaba, Camavinga, Renier, Hazard, Militao, Rodrygo, Mendy, Luka Jovic, Vinicius, Courtois, Kubo, Lunin. Many were high-cost bets where the policy was to take calculated risks. Some like Vinicius and Rodrygo delivered; others like Jovic and Reinier failed to justify the move. (Source: financial summaries and performance reviews)
The core issue is a team that remains less Spanish in its makeup. The summer departure of Isco highlighted the tension between long-term planning and the appeal of international options. Daniel Ceballos and Tchouameni’s arrival raised questions about the club’s midfield balance because some players are not drawn to the “seventh midfielder” configuration envisioned by the management. (Source: club communications and analyst insights)
Asensio, paradigmatic situation
The case of Marco Asensio captures the broader trend: a Spanish talent whose future is uncertain after another season in which minutes dwindled. With one year left on his contract, he contemplates opportunities where his talents are valued more prominently. The Bernabeu has seen him shine in bursts, yet he must compete with a crowded lineup that limits his ownership pace. Top contenders like Milan and Liverpool are reported to be evaluating his status. (Source: transfer watchers and sports journalists)
@isco_alarcon pic.twitter.com/U6NCUMT3lI
– Real Madrid CF (realmadrid) June 1, 2022
Without a quarry
All told, only three Spanish players remain in the first team: Carvajal, Nacho, and Lucas Vazquez. The leadership experience still centers on them, underscoring a national preference that keeps Madridistas in high regard. The academy’s reality, though, remains mixed; Anthony White and Miguel Gutierrez have been invited to grow within the squad but minutes have remained scarce. Sergio Reguilon’s path at Tottenham and other A-team appearances illustrate the uneven outcomes. Some argue the stagnation reflects broader distribution of Spanish talent in this generation, while others point to the extraordinary talent seen at Barcelona with Pedri, Ansu, and Gavi as a counterpoint. (Source: club academy reviews and comparative analyses)