The thinking behind Real Madrid's Bale move

To properly comprehend the full dimensions of another mind-boggling Real Madrid transfer, it is perhaps worth going back to the base of it all. Or, at least, the beginning of Florentino Perez’s first stint at the club in 2000.

Against his own judgement in those first few days, the Real president was persuaded by technical director Pirri to sign both Claude Makelele and Flavio Conceicao. The official, who was a legendary former Bernabeu player himself, insisted it would give the team “the best midfield in the world”.

That would certainly end up the case with Makelele — who himself proved Perez wrong in the long run — but not with Flavio. Despite costing €26m, the Brazilian could barely get a game.