Luis Figo says Real Madrid’s transfer business was driven by need rather than big-name signings

Luis Figo has praised Real Madrid’s work in the latest summer transfer window, saying the club made the right moves to strengthen its squad after two trophyless seasons.

The former Portugal international believes the Spanish club addressed important areas of the team by recruiting players for positions that required reinforcement, including central defence, both full-back roles and the wing.

“I think Real Madrid signed very well. They brought in players they needed in important positions: centre-back, the full-backs and a winger such as Diomande,” Figo said on the Figosofadas podcast.

“Overall, the signings were excellent, and they were motivated more by necessity than by names.”

Figo, who enjoyed a highly successful spell at Real Madrid, said the club had to act after the disappointment of the previous two campaigns. He added that the changes could also have an important effect on the mood around the team and among its supporters.

“It was necessary to take this step and strengthen the squad after the last two years without any trophies,” he said.

“This is important for the atmosphere, so that the fans can welcome the season with greater hope and feel that this year will be positive.”

The comments come as transfer fees continue to reach record levels across football. Figo warned that the current situation cannot continue indefinitely, although he acknowledged that spending is influenced by the financial strength of clubs and financial fair play regulations.

“At some point, this has to stop,” he said. “It is true that it depends on the clubs’ budgets and the rules of financial fair play, but the figures are far too high.”

Figo also questioned whether the largest deals can realistically be justified through commercial income, such as shirt sales. He accepted that an expensive signing can prove successful on the pitch, but said recovering the cost financially is considerably more difficult.

“I do not believe that a deal worth 150m euros can be recovered, as they always say, through selling shirts, for example,” said the former Portugal star.

“These deals can work from a sporting point of view, but financially it is very complicated.”

Reflecting on how the transfer market has changed since his playing career, Figo said the sums that once appeared extraordinary now look relatively modest compared with the fees involved in some modern transfers.

“It has been almost 30 years since my time,” he said. “Back then, I thought the amounts being paid were madness. But the development of the markets has led them to pay even more outrageous sums in some deals.”

Figo’s assessment is that Real Madrid’s latest recruitment was based primarily on addressing weaknesses rather than pursuing players simply because of their reputations. He believes that approach has given the club renewed optimism as it attempts to return to winning major honours.

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