Real already strong enough, insists Perez
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REAL Madrid President Florentino Perez has not ruled out making further signings this summer, but believes his team is already strong enough to contend for every title in the 2016-17 season.
The Spanish giant has been quiet in the transfer market, with the club re-signing Spanish striker Alvaro Morata from Juventus while selling Jese Rodriguez and Denis Cheryshev to Paris Saint-Germain and Villarreal.
Perez, whose side beat Sevilla 3-2 in extra-time on Tuesday to lift its third UEFA Super Cup, said on Real’s website: “Up until 31 August anything can happen, but we’re really satisfied with the players that we’ve got. It’s very difficult to improve our squad.”
Real’s priority is to strengthen its midfield for the new season.
However, the Champions League winner, lost out on signing French midfielder Paul Pogba, who rejoined Manchester United from Italian champion Juventus earlier this week on a reported world record fee of 89 million pounds (US$115.98 million).
Italian midfielder Marco Verratti, who was also a target, extended his contract with PSG until June 2021 last week.
Perez insists Real has enough quality to compete against the top European sides. “We’ve got an extraordinary squad,” he said. “We’ve got the best players in every position, as was seen at the European Championship.”
Real, which finished runner-up to Barcelona in La Liga last season, showed on Tuesday it has enough depth to challenge for every title in the new campaign.
Against Sevilla on Tuesday, Zinedine Zidane’s side played without six regular starters, including stars Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, but still beat the Europa League winner in its first competitive match of the season to lift the trophy.
A Daniel Carvajal extra-time winner handed Zidane his second title as Real coach.
Real begins the quest for its first La Liga title since 2011-12 at Real Sociedad on August 21.
Meanwhile, Barcelona coach Luis Enrique believes his current squad is the strongest he has ever had and he is very confident of retaining the La Liga and Copa del Rey titles.
The Spanish champion has recruited Andre Gomes, Samuel Umtiti, Lucas Digne and Denis Suarez since the end of last season while Marc Bartra, Thomas Vermaelen, Adriano Correia and Sandro Ramirez have departed.
“On paper, this is the best squad that I have had in my three years at Barcelona,” Luis Enrique told the club’s website. “We have a squad that has been strengthened brilliantly. All the new players have settled in well. They have quality and will have to compete for a place.”
Luis Enrique won the treble, including the Champions League, in his first season at the Nou Camp and it successfully defended the La Liga title and retained the Copa del Rey.
“It’s now up to us to see if we can retain the titles we won last season and also win more. I hope we can live up to expectations.”
Luis Enrique’s men begin their La Liga title defense at home to Real Betis on August 20.
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