7 Best Galactico Signings by Florentino Perez Amid Mbappe Links to Real Madrid

Real Madrid are arguably the biggest club in the world and are known to sign only the best players on the planet by all means necessary.

The club has been heavily linked with Paris Saint-Germain forward - and probably the best player in the world currently - Kylian Mbappe and it is reportedly only a matter of time before he signs for Los Blancos.

Under Florentino Perez's reign as president of the club across two spells, the Spanish giants signed the biggest names in the sport, ushering in the 'Galactico' era.

In his tenure, Perez has spent a staggering amount of money on players who have brought unprecedented success on and off the pitch - but what exactly is a 'Galactico'?

The term is the Spanish word for 'galactic' and is used to describe world-famous footballers who commanded hefty transfer fees.

The origin of the term dates back to the 1950s, when Real Madrid signed Alfredo Di Stefano, Ferenc Puskas, and other top players in that era.

The term resurfaced in the early 2000s as Perez assembled the best players in the world in Madrid. Sports Brief looks the top 7 Galacticos the reigning president has assembled.

Top Galacticos signed by Perez

7. Gareth Bale

Bale retired from football in January 2023, per Sports Brief, but he made his mark at Real Madrid. He joined Los Blancos in 2013 for €101 million, a world record fee, and became a key player for the Spanish giants, helping them win three La Liga titles and five Champions League titles. Although his name is not as big as other players on the list, he won plenty compared to them.

6. David Beckham

The Englishman from Manchester United was the only arrival in the summer of 2003 for €35mil. The following day, 1,500 journalists attended his presentation. In four years at the club, he only lifted La Liga and the Super Cup once and after scoring 20 goals and providing 52 assists. However, he went on to become a star off the pitch and remains a popular figure to this day.

5. Ronaldo Nazario

Perez acquired the services of Luis Figo and Zinedine Zidane in 2000 and 2001, respectively. However, he wanted Ronaldo and signed him in 2002 after he helped Brazil win the FIFA World Cup. He arrived from Inter Milan for €46mil as the best No. 9 in the world. According to Transfermarkt, he scored 103 goals in 177 appearances, but his goals brought one La Liga title to Los Blancos despite winning the Ballon d'Or in 1997 and 2002.

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4. Luis Figo

The Portuguese star arrived from Barcelona for €62mil - a world record fee then - in 2000. He played 245 times for Real Madrid and scored 57 goals, also providing 93 assists. He also won the 2000 Ballon d'Or and helped Madrid win two La Liga titles and one Champions League trophy.

3. Luka Modric

Between 2010 and 2020, Modrid was the only player other than Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to win the Ballon d'Or. The Croatian is still playing, per Sports Brief, and both Perez and Real Madrid got value for their money. He signed from Tottenham Hotspur for €32mil in 2012, forming one of the greatest midfield trios in history with Casemiro and Toni Kroos. So far, he has played 488 times for Madrid, winning five UCLs and three La Liga titles.

2. Zinedine Zidane

Perez brought Zidane for €77.5mil from Juventus in 2001, and the Frenchman went on to become one of the most influential signings for the club. His greatest moment came in the 2002 UEFA Champions League final, where he scored the game-winning goal to help secure the title. While he scored only 49 goals in 227 appearances for Los Blancos, he also became a successful coach with the side.

1. Cristiano Ronaldo

Perez signed Ronaldo for €94mil - a world record then - and he went on to become Real Madrid's greatest-ever player. At his peak, he was unstoppable: his combination of physicality, speed, touch, and movement put him on a level few could ever reach. Ronaldo scored 450 goals in 438 appearances in an astonishing return, per 90min. He won four Champions League and two La Liga trophies, and many rank him as the second-best-ever footballer behind his rival, Lionel Messi.

Is Mbappe next? The PSG star has been linked with the Spanish giants, and many feel it is only a matter of time before Perez adds him to the growing list of top stars Real Madrid has brought on.

Bellingham joins Real Madrid

Earlier, Sports Brief reported on Real Madrid confirming Bellingham's signing from Borussia Dortmund on a six-year deal on Wednesday, with the English international worth over €100mil.

The Bundesliga side are reported to have agreed on a deal for the 19-year-old star this month, as the Spanish giants continue to revitalise their current midfield ahead of the new season.

Bellingham is expected to partner with the young French duo of Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni, as veterans such as Luka Modric and Toni Kroos are steadily phased out.