SPORT journalist Joaquim Piera believes Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez has developed what he describes as a growing "Barcelona obsession," one that has increasingly influenced the club's transfer strategy.
In his column, Piera argues that Pérez is no longer focused solely on strengthening Real Madrid, but is also driven by the desire to prevent Barcelona from landing some of football's brightest talents.
According to the journalist, the latest example is Yan Diomande, the young winger who has reportedly become one of Florentino's biggest transfer priorities.
THE TRANSFER WINDOW: FLORENTINO'S FAVORITE TIME OF THE YEAR
Piera claims the summer transfer window is the period when Florentino enjoys taking the most direct control over sporting decisions.
According to the article, Pérez often goes beyond the traditional role of club president, becoming heavily involved in recruitment, squad planning and major transfer decisions.
The journalist argues that this approach has sometimes resulted in squads filled with individual talent but lacking tactical balance, leaving the coaching staff responsible for finding solutions throughout the season.
When results fail to meet expectations, Piera suggests it is usually the manager who faces the criticism, while the club's hierarchy remains largely out of the spotlight.
THE SEARCH FOR "THE NEXT LAMINE YAMAL"
One of the main themes of the article is Real Madrid's alleged desire to find a player capable of matching the impact of Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal.
Piera describes the 19-year-old as a unique footballer—a La Masia graduate, a world champion and one of the biggest stars in world football despite his young age.
According to the journalist, Real Madrid's recent transfer activity reflects an attempt to identify a similar generational talent.
The latest player linked with that search is Yan Diomande, who has reportedly emerged as one of Madrid's priority targets this summer.
HUGE INVESTMENTS IN YOUNG TALENT
SPORT also points to the significant financial investments Real Madrid have made in highly-rated young players over the past two years.
Last summer, the club secured the signing of Franco Mastantuono in what was widely reported as one of the biggest transfers in Argentine football history.
Now, according to Piera, Madrid are prepared to spend another €120 million to sign Diomande, continuing their strategy of investing heavily in young prospects before they fully establish themselves at the highest level.
The journalist questions whether these repeated investments suggest a lack of confidence in the club's scouting structure or simply reflect Florentino's determination to secure football's next global superstar.
A PATTERN THAT GOES BACK YEARS
Piera argues that this is not a new phenomenon.
He recalls Florentino's long-standing attempts to recruit Neymar, despite the Brazilian repeatedly choosing Barcelona during his rise at Santos.
Following Neymar's move to Barça, Real Madrid invested in Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo, two Brazilian talents who had also attracted strong interest from the Catalan club before eventually choosing Madrid.
The article suggests these signings formed part of the club's strategy to identify the next great Brazilian superstar capable of dominating world football.
Piera also revisits the many occasions when Real Madrid-linked players were compared to Lionel Messi, only for the Argentine to continue proving why he remained football's ultimate benchmark for more than a decade.
THE BIG QUESTION
The column concludes with a provocative question directed at Real Madrid's president.
According to Piera, after years of searching for "the next Messi," "the next Neymar" and now potentially "the next Lamine Yamal," the real challenge remains unchanged.
Can any transfer truly replicate the impact of a generational talent developed at La Masia?
For the SPORT journalist, the answer remains uncertain—and Florentino Pérez's search continues.
Sources: 📰 SPORT (Joaquim Piera)