Real Madrid Faces Uncertainty Amid Struggles on and off the Pitch

Real Madrid has long been admired as the gold standard of elite football management, with a history of consistent success under the leadership of president Florentino Pérez and director general José Ángel Sánchez. Their trophy cabinet is packed with 36 La Liga titles and 15 European Cups, and they’ve continued to build a top-tier squad, blending rising stars like Vinícius Júnior, Jude Bellingham, and Eduardo Camavinga with established talent, all while maintaining profitability and even managing to build a €1 billion, state-of-the-art stadium during a challenging economic period.

However, this season has brought some cracks in their near-flawless image. On the pitch, Madrid is struggling, trailing Barcelona by six points in La Liga and sitting in 18th place in the Champions League standings. Kylian Mbappé's integration into the squad has been criticized for his modest goal-scoring return and off-the-ball work-rate, while an injury crisis has left the team short in defense and the midfield weakened by Toni Kroos' unexpected retirement.

The club's much-anticipated new stadium project has also faced issues, with neighbors’ concerns over noise causing delays to its planned 365-day-a-year entertainment hub, pushing concert events at the venue back until mid-2025.

Additionally, Madrid’s boycott of the 2024 Ballon d'Or ceremony, following Vinícius Júnior's snub, was met with confusion, while the unresolved Super League project continues to haunt the club's public image. Despite Pérez's attempts to handle these issues robustly, Real Madrid’s once-unquestioned dominance is now being called into question, both on and off the field.