Managing Madrid

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Nuri Sahin, the youngest player ever to play in the Bundesliga (he debuted back in 2005, at 16), will join Real Madrid after completing two eye-opening campaigns in a row for the German side Borussia Dortmund. He has scored 6 goals in 30 league matches for the black-and-yellow squad, and completed 8 assists; he currently has  8 goals, and 13 assists, in 40 total matches this season.

He has been an absolute sensation in the Bundesliga over the last two years, as he has begun to grow into his prodigious talents: at 21 years old, the only way to go is up for this young German-born Turkish prodigy.

With this signing, Madrid adds to its' growing (and very successful) arsenal of Germans with Turkish heritage--including Mesut Özil and Sami Khedira. If Sahin plays anything like either of his countrymen, then he will certainly find a very special place with los blancos.

This signing also represents Madrid's transfer policy since Mourinho: bring in young, talented, and relatively inexpensive players (Sahin cost 6 million Euros), and try to create the right combination that will gel on the pitch. So far, this has been a ringing success--with Özil and Ángel di María fast becoming superstars, and Sergio Canales waiting in the wings, Madrid seems to be stacking a midfield-of-the-future, much like Josh and I predicted at the beginning of the year.

It's also good to see Mourinho getting started on the summer signings: the sooner we get the roster nailed down, the sooner the players can start to gel together.