REAL Madrid president Florentino Perez Rodriguez is no longer a popular man in the Spanish capital after he took his Galacti-crazy policy to a new height by destroying the winning team of last season just to accommodate less needed but fanciful recruits.

Perez ordered the sale of Real’s unsung heroes of their double triumph of last season Angel Di Maria and experienced Xabi Alonso just to accommodate his new Galactico Colombia’s James Rodriguez whose only claim to stardom was to emerge with the golden ball at the last Mundial in Brazil and Germany world champion Tony Kroos.

The destabilization caused to the team has wasted no time to manifest as Real lost two consecutive league matches, leaving them in the bottom half of the table after only managing one win in three games. Real surprisingly capitulated 4-2 to lowly Real Sociedad a fortnight ago despite taking a two-goal lead. But it was their latest reverse, a 2-1 home defeat to bitter neighbours and reigning champs Atletico Madrid which brought the first sign of discontent among Real fans who chorused “Perez Out!” after Atleti retook the lead in the derby.

Real won both the Copa Del Rey and a record extending 10th UCL crown last season. But before their Saturday capitulation in the derby, they had already lost the Spanish Super Cup to Atleti again 2-1 on aggregate in La Liga season opener. Ok, they defeated Sevilla in the European Super Cup. But that was before Perez’s demolition started.

After the sales of the two players who provided good balance for the reigning European champs, I voiced my fears on this column a fortnight ago and I’m sad that those fears are already looking well founded. But for Real faithful with long memories, this latest gambit of President Perez looks all too familiar.

In his first term in office between 2000 and 2006, Perez introduced and vigorously pursued a Galactico policy where he bought at least one elite player for the club every season regardless of the club’s needs. The policy yielded two UCL and La Liga crowns each before the President embarked on a destructive demolition job in 2003 which saw him jettison successful but very taciturn coach Vincent Del Bosque (ostensibly because he didn’t fit the Galactico profile) and most importantly Real’s midfield anchor Claude Makelele who Perez derided as an average player who couldn’t get the ball past an opponent.

Leading figures among the playing staff such as Fernandos Hierro and Morientes and Englishman Steve McManaman were shown the exit door too as Perez ripped apart the very fabrics of a winning machine. Cue the drought as Real won nothing in the next three years before their business tycoon president resigned on 27 February 2006, admitting as it were that the club needed a new direction.

Perez didn’t go away for long before he returned, though. He announced his intention to contest for the club’s presidency three years later in May 2009. And he was reelected unopposed on 01 June same year, given that he was the only candidate able to provide the €57,389,000 guarantee necessary to run for the presidency. Thence began the return of another Galactico era.

Jose Mourinho, a truly Galactico coach envisioned by Perez was brought on board in 2010 but had to leave three years later after a turbulent marriage that yielded more acrimonies than trophies. An affable Galactico coach Carlo Ancelotti succeeded Mou and the Italian delivered two trophies including the previously elusive La Decimal (the 10th UCL crown) in his first season. Galactico players such as Kaka,CR7, Di Maria, Karim Benzema, Mesut Ozil, Gonzalo Higuain, Gareth Bale, Isco, et al were brought in as Perez continued his obnoxious policy, aimed primarily at the time to land La Decimal.

And like leopard who doesn’t change its spots, with La Decimal secured last season, Perez appeared bored with his team and decided it was time to rip it apart once again to the surprise of many prominent players such as reigning FIFA Player of the Year CR7 who questioned the President’s summer business which saw the departures of key members and team leaders Di Maria and Alonso.

And like it was 11 years ago, results have been suffering too. There is a meeting of Madrid members scheduled for September 21, which could be an unhappy occasion for Perez if Madrid’s form hasn’t improved. Until then the question on the minds of Real faithful is whether Perez is peril for Real or a panacea.

NO SYMPATHY FOR PELLEGRINI!

MAN City boss Manuel Pellegrini lost his famed cool after a 2-2 draw against Arsenal at the Emirates Saturday left the reigning champions five points behind EPL leaders Chelsea who walloped hitherto joint leaders Swansea 4-2 at the Bridge same day.

Usually unflappable, Pellegrini berated ref Mark Clattenburg’s performance in the biggest EPL clash of Week 4 and insinuated the FIFA ref might have cost his team their title this early with the ref’s error-strewn handling of the Emirates clash.

“Both of Arsenal goals were illegal goals and twice the ball hit the hand of Jack Wilshere in the front of the linesman so I am happy with the point,” began the visibly distraught Chilean. “We played very well and we try to be an offensive team. We had more clear chances to score.

“I don’t talk about individual performances, I talk about the team. I repeat, we were unlucky with the decisions from the referee. The decisive thing were the goals. First was a foul on Aguero and second was a push by Danny Welbeck on Vincent Kompany and finally we had a clear penalty which was not given.”

I’m not sure I totally agree with Pellegrini. But, yes, Arsenal’s second goal, scored by Alexi Sanchez should not have stood because of  Welbeck’s foul on Kompany in the build-up to the goal. And Wilshere could have given a penalty away for deliberate handball on 76 minutes.

Even at that, I feel no pity for Pellegrini whose side benefitted immensely from numerous erroneous referee calls on the way to the title last season. I’m not in any way insinuating that City won the title last season because of poor referee calls. But in matches against Liverpool and Southampton at the Emirates and Newcastle United at St James’s Park just to mention three, the Citizens got game-changing favourable calls. But what’s the point? After all, they say these things cancel themselves out over the course of the season, I’ll make it two seasons in City’s case.

On a day when Pellegrini lost his cool for perceived injustice, the team likely to dethrone him, Chelsea, had plenty rub of the green from match officials at Stamford Bridge. Striker supreme DieGO-AL Costa scored a hat-trick in Blues 4-2 rout of Swansea. But the Spain international should have left the pitch long before his late first half equalizer.

Costa violently sent a Swans defender sprawling in the box as Chelsea prepared to take a free-kick with scores 1-0 in favour of the visitors. Ref Kevin Friend didn’t see the incident and more bizarrely his assistant who was a mere meters away from the incident.

The TV replays of the scuffle were damning. Had any of the officials seen the incident in live action, it would have been an instant red for the Blues forward and that would have been it for Chelsea. Worse still, Costa would have bagged a three-match ban at the very least. The BPL disciplinary body could still take a retrospective action, though I doubt it. But whatever happens, Chelsea got away with this one, big time!

Defender Gary Cahill was also involved in a little but similar scuffle with Swans troublesome forward Bafetembi Gomis in the second half and only got some lectures from friendly Friend. I’m waiting for the time when things go against Mourinho. It would be interesting to hear his post-match raps.

And did anybody notice Mou’s gamesmanship in full flow again as he surreptitiously disrupted Swansea’s building momentum by holding on to the ball so as to prevent a quick throw-in by the resurgent visitors who had just halved the deficit? Mou’s anti-football antics ensured a touchline melee which only served to knock Swansea off their stride and killed any momentum they could build from the goal they just scored.

Guess what, ref Friend displayed another friendly gesture by just issuing the Special One with a short verbal caution! Things are certainly going the Blues way now. But, of course, it’s a very long season and plenty of issues will surely arise. Enjoy your time in EPL officials sunshine while it last Mou and the gang. And Mr Manuel, a word of advice: learn to live with unfavourable calls just the same way you happily failed to mention favourable calls last season.

 EUROPEAN LEAGUE CROWNS: MY OTHER TIPS!

LIKE I promised last week, it’s time to reveal my thoughts on the likely champions of Europe’s other big leagues. And my first point of call is Spain where I think the title will be changing hands. Deposed champions FC Barcelona have addressed an agelong issue of defensive weakness and have also added a very big X-factor by landing Luis Suarez.

At a time when their two major rivals from the capital Real and Atletico have been decimated, Barca look to have sensibly strengthened in the summer and they are my favourites to the title with holders Atletico possibly running them close. I don’t see Real finish above third position after the crazy demolition job of club president Perez.

I see Juve retain their crown in Italy for the fact that the Old Lady did not lose any big player last summer despite persistent rumour linking midfield backbones Arturo Vidal and Paul Pogba to exit door. I had my doubts about the appointment of Massimo Allegri after his spectacular failure at Milan whom he had led to the title in his first season.

But the coach has made a promising start with the Old Lady and I think he can repeat his first season magic at San Siro in Turin. Like it was last season, I see Roma providing any challenge to Juve’s crown though eventually the wily Old Lady will prevail eventually. Napoli and the rest will scrap for the crumbs.

I also do not see any change of guard in France and Germany where PSG and Bayern Munich look untouchable. PSG look like they could run away with the title again while Bayern could have stiff competition from current leaders Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund.

Guys, these are my tips for titles in other European major leagues. What are yours?

CONGRATS COSTA, MONK!

I WAS pleased when Chelsea’s Diego Costa and Swansea’s Gary Monk were named Barclays PL Player and Manager of August 2014 respectively. I totally agree with the organizers of the awards who refused to be swayed by some vociferous pro-Mourinho campaigners who wanted the Special One to win the gong.

Yes, both Mou and Monk scored maximum points from their August fixtures. But given latter’s meager, some would argue pauper, resources compared to former’s opulence and spoils for choice, it’s no brainer the Swans boss was the winner.

While he will be disappointed to have lost the manager’s gong to Monk, Mou would at least be pleased that Costa was named the player of the month, and deservedly so in spite of the Blues boss campaign for his priced Spanish hitman. Mou made similar but ultimately futile campaign for Edin Hazard early this year.

Maybe now, he would admit the fairness and transparency of the organizers of these awards. Congrats Costa and Monk on your well deserved awards.