Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Zinedine Zidane are among Florentino Perez’s ‘Galacticos’ 

EPA

Florentino Perez has only sanctioned signings of two players aged over 30

But youth has been his real obsession as Real Madrid president

DESPITE his reputed obsession with signing Galaticos, Florentino

 Perez is actually more concerned about bringing in youth.

During the notorious Spanish businessman’s two tenures as 

Real Madrid president he has only brought in two players over 30 —

 both of who were during the Jose Mourinho era.

REUTERS

Florentino Perez broke world record for second time to sign Zinedine Zidane

In Perez’s first spell, from 2000 to 2006, the average age of signings was 26, and it is currently at 23.1 years for his second spell, which started in 2009.

And it looks like the average age is only going to decrease, given their top summer targets are Theo Hernandez, 19, and 18-year-old Kylian Mbappe.

They also secured the signing of 16-year-old Brazilian starlet Vinicius Jnr for £38million earlier in the transfer window.

Perez has enjoyed incredible success on the European front as president of the Bernabeu giants.

Real Madrid have won the Champions League on four occasions under him, with only Silvio Berlusconi enjoying more triumphs at AC Milan — and that was over a 30-year period.

He was first elected in 2000 by promising to bring with him Luis Figo from Barcelona — and he kept his word by sanctioning one of the most controversial transfers in football history.

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Isco is among the crop of sensational Spanish players Real Madrid currently boast

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Marco Asensio is one of many world class young players at Real Madrid

The £37m deal would have to be the first time he broke the world transfer record, and he would do it again two years later when he brought in Zinedine Zidane from Juventus for £47m.

Perez also signed the likes of David Beckham and Ronaldo to create a side known as the “Galacticos”.

In his second spell, he broke the world transfer record a further three times with the arrivals of Kaka from Milan for £56m, Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United for £80m in 2009 and Gareth Bale for £86m four years later.

AP:ASSOCIATED PRESS

Sergio Ramos was first teenager signed by Florentino Perez at Real Madrid

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Florentino Perez promised to sign Luis Figo during his first run for presidency

It is for these high profile deals that he is remembered, but his belief in youth has never wavered.

Only Ricardo Carvalho, 32, in 2010 and Diego Lopez, 31, in 2013 arrived at Real Madrid having surpassed the age of 30 under Perez.

Incredibly, of his 61 signings, Zidane and Michael Esseien were the only 29-year-olds.

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Real Madrid paid then world-record £80million for 24-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo

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Real Madrid have reputation for only signing Galactico players

While only future Tottenham goalkeeper Cesar Sanchez, Beckham, Thomas Gravesen, Pablo Garcia, Hamit Altintop and Kiko Casillas were 28 when they signed.

Five top quality players — Figo, Claude Makelele, Kaka, Xabi Alonso and Keylor Navas — all arrived at 27.

Six were 26 when they signed.

All of Florentino Perez's signings at Real Madrid with ages

2000-01

Cesar Sanchez, 28

Luis Figo, 27

Claude Makelele, 27

Flavio Conceicao, 26

Pedro Munitis, 25

Albert Celades, 24

Santiago Solari, 23

2001-2

Zinedine Zidane, 29

2002-03

Ronaldo, 25

2003-04

David Beckham, 28

2004-05

Thomas Gravesen, 28

Walter Samuel, 26

Michael Owen, 24

Jonathan Woodgate, 24

2005-06

Pablo Garcia, 28

Cicinho, 25

Julio Baptista, 23

Antonio Cassano, 23

Carlos Diogo, 21

Robinho, 21

Sergio Ramos, 19

AVERAGE AGE: 26
2009-10

Kaka, 27

Xabi Alonso, 27

Alvaro Arbeloa, 26

Cristiano Ronaldo, 24

Raul Albiol, 23

Esteban Granero, 22

Karim Benzema, 21

2010-11

Ricardo Carvalho, 32

Sami Khedira, 23

Pedro Leon, 23

Angel Di Maria, 22

Mesut Ozil, 21

Sergio Canales, 19

Emmanuel Adebayor, 26

2011-12

Hamit Altintop, 28

Jose Callejon, 24

Fabio Coentrao, 23

Nuri Sahin, 22

Raphael Varane, 18

2012-13
Diego Lopez, 31

Michael Essien, 29

Luka Modric, 26

2013-14
Aiser Illarramendi, 27

Dani Carvajal, 21

Casemiro, 21

Isco, 21

Gareth Bale, 24

2014-15
Keylor Navas, 27

Javier Hernandez, 26

Toni Kroos, 24

James Rodriguez, 23

Lucas Silva, 21

2015-16
Kiko Casilla, 28

Lucas Vazquez, 24

Danilo, 23

Mateo Kovacic, 21

Marco Asensio, 19

Jesus Vallejo, 18

2016-17
Alvaro Morata, 23

2017-18
Vinicius Jnr., 16

AVERAGE AGE: 23.1

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Florentino Perez , left, after first presidential election

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Florentino Perez with Alfredo Di Stefano after second election triumph

They were Flavio Conceiao in 2000, Walter Samuel in 2004, Alvaro Arbeloa in 2009,Emmanuel Adebayor in 2011, Luka Modric in 2012 and Javier Hernandez two years later.

And eight players, including Jonathan Woodgate, Michael Owen, Cristiano Ronaldo, Bale and Toni Kroos joined at 24.

Perez has brought in six players under the age of 20.

AP:ASSOCIATED PRESS

Flavio Conceiao and Claude Makelele both joined Real Madrid in 2000

And, although he had to wait five years to for his first, it would certainly be worth it.

Real Madrid made Sergio Ramos the world’s most-expensive teenager when he signed from Sevilla for £23m as a 19-year-old.

Since then, they have brought in Sergio Canales, 19, Raphael Varane, 18, Marco Asensio, 19, Jesus Vallejo, 18, and Vinicius Jnr, 16.

REUTERS

Real Madrid broke world transfer record to sign Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo

REUTERS

Jonathan Woodgate was 24 when he made the move to Real Madrid

EPA

Marco Asensio scored in Champions League final victory over Juventus

Perez admitted in a recent interview that what gives him the most pride is how “Spanish” he has made Real Madrid.

Asensio, Isco and Nacho are among the young, quality, local talent available to Zidane — and they can actually form a competitive starting XI of just Spanish players.

Incidentally, during the three years where Perez was not president, Real Madrid signed three over 30s in Fabio Cannavaro, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Jerzy Dudek.

EPA

Real Madrid have spent £38million on signing 16-year-old Vinicuis Jnr

GETTY IMAGES

Jose Mourinho was reunited with Ricardo Carvalho at Real Madrid in 2010

GETTY IMAGES

Diego Lopez was 31 when he joined Real Madrid in summer of 2012

Barcelona may have a reputation for trusting academy players.

Yet, it’s Real Madrid who are most focused on youth these days.

Zidane was academy manager before being appointed full-time boss, and he gives the younger players every possible chance.