Luis Figo praises Real Madrid's summer signings: 'They bought well, it was necessary after two barren years'

Luis Figo has publicly backed Real Madrid's decisive summer transfer strategy. The former Portugal winger, who won the Ballon d'Or in 2000, believes the club's heavy investment was fully justified after two consecutive seasons without a major trophy. Speaking with Betfair, Figo praised the sporting planning at Valdebebas and also welcomed the arrival of José Mourinho as the man chosen to restore the team's competitive edge.

• Real Madrid has signed six players: Diomande, Bernardo Silva, Cucurella, Dumfries, Espí and Konaté, plus head coach José Mourinho.
• Figo believes the club has strengthened exactly where it needed to: center-back, full-back and wide positions.
• The Portuguese considers the signings essential to rebuild excitement among Madrid fans after two empty seasons.
• He also questioned the financial sustainability of today's multi-million transfer fees.

Luis Figo's verdict on Real Madrid's summer signings

Figo's assessment of Madrid's transfer business is straightforward: the club has made smart moves. The former winger praised the focus on positions that urgently needed an upgrade, specifically mentioning central defense, the full-back areas and the wing. He pointed to Diomande as the kind of profile Madrid required to lift the overall quality of the squad.

I think Real Madrid has signed very well. They've brought in players they needed in key positions.

The Portuguese's argument is that this window was about addressing clear weaknesses rather than chasing glamour. Adding Mourinho fits the same logic: a manager with strong character capable of managing a refreshed dressing room and returning Real Madrid to winning ways.

Why Real Madrid needed to strengthen after two trophyless years

Figo was clear about what made this transfer push essential. Two seasons without silverware had taken a toll on the club's spirit, and decisive action was needed. For the Portuguese, strengthening the squad went beyond sporting considerations: it was also about reconnecting emotionally with a fanbase that needed fresh reasons to believe in the project.

It was necessary to take this step and strengthen the team after the last two years without winning a title.

Figo's message taps into a widely held belief among Madrid supporters: the club cannot afford long stretches without trophies. That demand, woven into the club's identity, explains the bold commitment to a large-scale transfer window. The former player noted that new signings help fans approach the season with renewed hope and feel more connected to the team.

Diomande's price tag and the inflated transfer market

The reported fee for Diomande, around 125 million euros, gave Figo the perfect excuse to reflect on how the market has evolved. The Portuguese admitted that current prices seem crazy, but also acknowledged he felt the same way nearly three decades ago when he was involved in major transfers himself. Football inflation, he said, has normalized figures that once seemed impossible.

In the end, that's the market. The evolution of football markets means even crazier amounts are paid for some signings.

On the financial side, Figo was sharply critical. He believes there is a misleading narrative that tries to convince fans a 150 million euro signing can be paid off through shirt sales, and that is simply not true. Sporting returns are possible, but balancing the books at those prices is extremely difficult. In his view, the current system cannot sustain this escalation forever.

LaLiga according to Figo: Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atlético lurking

Figo does not expect major surprises in the domestic title race. The Portuguese believes the balance of power will remain the same as in recent years, with Real Madrid and Barcelona as the main contenders. Atlético de Madrid, depending on their consistency, could join the fight, but the former winger does not see a radically different competition from what fans have witnessed lately.

Figo's take is that LaLiga is largely predictable at the top. The sheer depth of the Real Madrid and Barcelona squads, combined with their financial capacity, creates a gap that is hard for other challengers to close. Atlético, with Simeone still in charge, remains the most credible alternative if either of the big two slips up.

Figo, the Liverpool move that never was, and his stalled Saudi adventure

The conversation with Betfair also left room for nostalgia. Figo recalled the chance to sign for Liverpool in 2005, a move that collapsed because of timing. The English club took too long to sort out its financial situation, and the Portuguese could not afford to wait. Inter Milan then appeared and sealed the deal after a single meeting with president Massimo Moratti. After that conversation, there was no turning back.

Despite never wearing the Liverpool shirt, Figo feels his career lacked nothing. He admitted that as a child Liverpool was a club with a huge presence in Europe and he would have liked to play there, but fortune took him to some of the best teams in the world. That balance leaves him at peace with his journey.

He also revealed a lesser-known chapter: in 2007, just after his first Inter contract ended, he received an offer to play in Saudi Arabia. The move fell through because, in his words, the people running the project were not serious. Figo ended up staying two more years in Milan. Today, with the Saudi football boom dominating headlines, the Portuguese can only observe the transformation of a football landscape that back then had little to do with what it has become.

The signing that surprised him most during his career

Asked about the transfers that left the biggest mark on his career, Figo first mentioned his own move to Real Madrid, a switch that changed his life and shook Spanish football. He also cited the arrivals of Zidane and Ronaldo at the Bernabéu, operations that defined a golden era of blockbuster signings.

However, the one that surprised him most was David Beckham, and not only because of the media frenzy. Figo admitted that the Englishman played in a position very similar to his own and he initially feared the signing could threaten his place in the starting eleven. That was not the case: the two coexisted in the dressing room and the competition did not alter his role.

I'd say Beckham's surprised me most, because he played in a similar position to mine and could have taken my spot.