With Real Madrid aiming to win all six competitions they have entered this season, their vision is also more long-term that just the next campaign. They are preparing for a period of dominance the only way Real Madrid seem to know how, by purchasing the top trending players in the world with no view of a structure in place and no idea of how to identify needs, weaknesses and areas of concern.
The purchase of James Rodriguez after a stunning World Cup and snapping up Toni Kroos when he became available from Bayern Munch were seen as good business, but as the former doesn't really fit into Carlo Ancelotti's best XI, it may become a problem when Florentino Perez starts insisting that he plays.
The deal for the Colombian was too good a marketing mega-deal to turn down in the eyes of Perez and the €63m paid for him has started to pay dividends already when you see the shirt and merchandise sales. It also keeps the fans firmly on Perez's side, as it shows he won't delay in the transfer market, regardless of the asking price.
With every action, however, there is an equal and opposite reaction and Angel Di Maria appears set to leave Santiago Bernabeu in order to accommodate the wishes of Perez's Galacticos model. It appears the Real Madrid President has never heard of the phrase if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Carlo Ancelotti was handed the reins last year and given full control of team tactics, but with Perez remaining active in the transfer market, it appears Ancelotti's work is very much cut out for him this year as he tries to appease all three sections of the Bernabeu faithful – the fans, the players and Florentino. At other super clubs, the three work in tandem but at Madrid they are different entities.
Two of the most senior members of the squad, Cristiano Ronaldo and Sergio Ramos, have urged Florentino Perez not to sell Di Maria and it is hard to argue with two men who have played with him for so long and have seen his effect on the group. They understand how Di Maria's work rate and goals make every member of Los Blancos' squad into winners..
The fans know too. Di Maria's brief cameo against Atletico Madrid in the Supercopa this week was a good chance for the supporters to voice their backing of the versatile Argentina international. They raised the roof when he came on and Di Maria did not disappoint with plenty of hustle and bustle that resulted in a goal by the aforementioned James. That won't matter too much to Perez, however, as this saga has an all too familiar feeling to it.
The sale of Claude Makelele to Chelsea in the summer of 2003 was deemed necessary by Madrid's higher powers to accommodate the signing of David Beckham. The transfer would shake the very foundation of the side and they paid heavily for the loss of the man that made it all come together.
It feels as though, in Di Maria, last year's Champions League winners are losing the man who they look to in times of adversity. The fans and the players know this, but Perez seems so keen on James that Di Maria's fate may have already been sealed.
