Real Madrid kept Carlos Espí's arrival under extreme discretion, and the €25 million deal only came into the open when the club announced it on 30 July. Even close family were kept in the dark, with Juanjo Espi saying he could not discuss the transfer with his mother, his brother or practically anyone else before the news broke. The size of the move mattered, but so did the type of forward Madrid were trying to buy.
Madrid's search for a different centre-forward
Espí is 6ft 4in, and Madrid wanted a more traditional centre-forward. Plainly, that is a different profile to Gonzalo García or to the way Real Madrid usually build their attack around other forwards. Jose Mourinho personally contacted Espí and explained the role he could have in the squad.
The fit was not built on theory alone. Last season Espí scored 11 goals after Luis Castro's arrival at Levante and helped them avoid relegation. Levante said he became their most expensive academy product ever sold, with only Jefferson Lerma leaving for a larger overall fee.
He has also made a quick start in Madrid colours, scoring his first unofficial goal shortly after arriving in a 2-1 pre-season victory over Ferencvaros. It is only pre-season, so that should not be oversold, but it does show why Madrid saw him as more than just a hidden purchase.
If the role Madrid sold him is the right one, the next months will tell us a lot. For now, the concrete facts are clear: a €25 million move, a 6ft 4in striker and a club that went to unusual lengths to keep the deal quiet.
Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
