Great job by the Sporting Directorship with the arrival of Capello and five players

Five new players and a brand new coaching staff led by Fabio Capello. This is the toll of new signings during Ramón Calderón's era, after less than two months as President of Real Madrid. The Sporting Directorship, spear-headed by Pedja Mijatovic, has worked ceaslessly to conform the new and exciting project in the hopes of reviving the glory days.

With the summer transfer window deadline over, the squad of Real Madrid has been completed, featuring five new signings and eleven transferred players, whether sold, swapped or on loan. Since 2 July, when Ramón Calderón won the Presidential elections, the Club, and more specifically, the Sports Directorship led by Pedja Mijatovic and seconded by assistant technical directors Franco Baldini and Carlos Bucero, have outperformed themselves working hand in hand with the coaching staff.

Capello, first off
Fabio Capello was the first arrival to Real Madrid, just four days after the elections. He landed with his trusted coaching staff: assistant coach Italo Galbiati, physical trainer Massimo Neri and goalkeeper trainer Franco Tancredi.

The staff, joined by Toni Grande as second assistant coach, immediately got down to work to plan the pre-season and relay the signing and transfer needs of the team to the Sports Director. And so, just twenty days later, in a frantic week spanning from 24 to 30 July, the Presidential Balcony of the Santiago Bernabéu saw the presentations of Cannavaro, Emerson and Van Nistelrooy, a new player ahead, in the middle and in the back, in line with the new guidelines of Capello's Real Madrid.

One month later, it was the turn of Diarra, a player that had been branded “very important” by the head coach within his team design and which the player from Mali has confirmed in his only two matches so far against Anderlecht in the Santiago Bernabéu Trophy and in the first League meeting against Villarreal. The fifth and last signing was Spanish international player José Antonio Reyes, who will be presented next week as new Real Madrid player after fulfilling his duties with the Spanish national side.

Transfers
Real Madrid has transferred youth player Rubén to Racing Santander, managed by Miguel Ángel Portugal, who was precisely his coach in RM Castilla last season. Danish midfielder Thomas Gravesen will be playing for Celtic Glasgow. Meanwhile, Borja Fernández left Real Madrid to sign for Valladolid, who will be in the fight to promote to the Primera Liga.

Loans
The first player who went on loan was "The Soldier". Roberto Soldado will be playing with Osasuna in the Uefa Cup this year. Next in line was youth system winger Javier Balboa, who will be joining fomer RM Castilla team-mate Rubén and coach Miguel Ángel Portugal, who knows the player well and has great expectations regarding his performance this season.

Both Uruguayan players, Carlos Diogo and Pablo García, were also loaned out. Diogo will be defending the colours of Zaragoza, a team that is bulding a very interesting sporting project. Meanwhile, Pablo García will don the jersey of Celta Vigo, the side managed by Fernando Vázquez.

Also seeking to play on a regular basis this season is Jonathan Woodgate, who has set sail back to his homeland to play for Premier side Boro. The centre back will be facing the likes of former Real Madrid team-mate Julio Baptista, who is on loan to Arsenal until the end of this campaign.

Transfers with buy-back option

Finally, three players have been transferred, but the Whites have insured a buy-back option during the first two years. Javier Portillo, Juanfran and Jurado will be back if Real Madrid deems their progression is optimal.

Portillo will be playing with First Division newcomers Nástic Tarragona, a team in which he should be the offensive reference. Jurado has signed a four-year contract with neighbours Atletico Madrid, as has Juanfran with Osasuna, where he will team up with former Real Madrid Castilla team-mate Soldado.


Report by Luis Navarro & Carlos Cristóbal
Translation by Luis Orueta