How Real Madrid generated €138m without sacrificing their stars

Real Madrid continue to show how academy talent can be turned into a major financial asset. While Los Blancos prepare for an ambitious transfer window - after the arrivals of Denzel Dumfries, Marc Cucurella, Ibrahima Konaté and Bernardo Silva, with Michael Olise also among their targets - the club have already brought in around €138m without selling a single first-team star.

The key lies in the strategy Madrid have followed in recent years with their academy players. The club have often allowed young talents to leave while retaining sell-on clauses or inserting buy-back options. That approach is now paying off handsomely.

The recent sales of Mario Gila to AC Milan and Álvaro Rodríguez to AFC Bournemouth come on top of the money raised through Nico Paz, Víctor Muñoz, Álex Jiménez and other academy products, creating a financial windfall that will cover a large part of Madrid’s summer business.

It is a far-sighted model that allows the club to strengthen the squad without giving up their leading players, while once again underlining Real Madrid’s reputation as one of football’s smartest operators in the transfer market.

Real Madrid’s summer 2026 income

Nico Paz — to Como 1907: €60m
Víctor Muñoz — to Liverpool: €20m
Mario Gila — to AC Milan: €15m
Álvaro Rodríguez — to AFC Bournemouth: €15m
Álex Jiménez — to AFC Bournemouth: €12.5m
Víctor Valdepeñas — to ACF Fiorentina: €8m
Mario Martín — to Getafe CF: €3.5m
Fran García — to Real Betis: €4m