Real Madrid wins the Gonzalo Higuain Lottery

Given the mercurial ways of the French-Argentine teen sensation Gonzalo Higuain, I wanted to wait until it became truly official that he would be joining Real Madrid. It now has. The River Plate striker has been inked to a six-and-a-half year deal by the Spanish giants with Real Madrid reportedly paying $17.17 million for his services. The signing ends the usual song and dance that takes place between young players and huge European clubs. It also shows that Real Madrid is seriously starting to reload with young talent.

Higuan, who we’ll likely get to see with tubes coming out of his chest in due time, joins the young Brazilian defender Marcelo as recent signings by a Real Madrid team that is stocked with aging superstars. It is widely expected that 20-year-old Boca Juniors midfielder Fernando Gago will also join in the fun by signing a big fat contract in the coming days and there is even some talk that the young U.S. defender Oguchi Onyewu will wear all white in the near future.

It is fairly easy to criticize a club like Real Madrid for their free spending ways, but they should also receive credit for realizing that now is the time for them to rebuild and to usher in a youth movement. Players like Higuan and Marcelo will benefit from having time to develop behind Ronaldo, Raul and Roberto Carlos. Such is a luxury that many clubs cannot afford.

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Category: South America, Spain La Liga