As the heat in Madrid continues to rise so to do the rumours surrounding Real Madrid in the midst of the summer transfer window. Though Madrid have addressed certain concerns in the first couple weeks, the most interesting moves are still yet to come.

Hamit Altintop, the Turkish attacking midfielder who last played at the Bernabeu opposite Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan in the 2010 Champions League final, highlights what, for the time being, is a short list of new, young talent. In a campaign filled with speculation over Mourinho’s future, even in his first season in the Spanish capital, it seems the Portuguese manager is putting the pieces in place to create a Madrid of the future.

Jose Maria Callejon and Raphael Varane have joined Altintop as Mourinho’s new recruits. At 24 and 18, respectively, the mentality of the Madrid brass, or at least Jose Mourinho, has shifted from that of just the next season to the next decade of Los Blancos. At the three aforementioned players could possibly be just a small drop in the summer transfer bucket. Of course it is all to be taken with a grain of salt; Madrid’s perennial European contention, high profile manager and plethora of disposable income will always have the big names in the market linked to the Spanish capital.

It seems, accordingly to various sources, that the Neymar will headline this summer’s transfer season. The young Brazilian start has reportedly chosen Madrid over Barcelona and Chelsea, where it seemed he was destined to go only a few months ago; however, the 19-year-old prodigy will “respect his contract with Santos.” Will he move this summer? All signs point to yes and it seems that Madrid will be the ‘where to’ of the equation. Questions have been raised about his age (certain Brazilian football personalities think more time will be beneficial for his growth as a footballer) and how he will fit into Mourinho’s tactics (is the Portuguese manager too regimented? Will it suffocate his creativity?). When and if he does, Neymar will be the twenty-second Brazilian to join Los Blancos. Fernando Giudicelli was the first in 1935 and the twenty that have succeeded have been a wide variety of Brazilian marquee names with an assortment of successes (Roberto Carlos), disappointments (Kaka) and pleasant surprises (Marcelo). Where Neymar will fit on that list, only time will tell.

The futures of Fabio Coentrao, Maicon, Emmanuel Adebayor, Pepe, Sergio Ramos will, in one way or another, shape Madrid’s summer and therefore set the precedent for the coming season. Mourinho’s best success comes in his second year with clubs; if that patter is to continue, what Madrid does with the rest of the summer may be the difference in usurping the Spanish league from their Catalan rivals.

As Madrid move forward so too does this correspondent. I have had the pleasure of being the ESPN’s Real Madrid go between for the past two seasons but will, unfortunately, be signing off after this post. I wanted to take the last few lines to thank all of those who have contributed to this blog over that time period. The comments have sparked great debates and the criticisms have inspired me to continue improving weekly. Thank you, once again, to all the readers; Hala Madrid.

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