It is time.

Five years after retiring, el capitán is back home.

After having three poor consecutive seasons, not qualyfing for the Champions League, selling young stars such as Rodrygo, Odriozola, Militão and Varane, investing in a very dubious way (buying 32 year-old Luis Alberto and still clinging to veterans Luka Modric, Eden Hazard, Karim Benzema and Nacho Fernández), and displaying one of the most bloated wage sheets of the world, the board finally got tired of Zidane's pragmatism. In need of serious refreshment and overhauling, the high brass of Real Madrid hired Sergio Ramos and gave him carte blanche to do whatever he thinks is best, and strongly suggested some heavy investment in youth - both domestically, among the ranks of the own club, and abroad, prospecting for talent wherever it can be found.

Working with more money than he had to in his four seasons in Málaga combined, Ramos, however, takes a careful approach market-wise. He readjusts the whole squad's wages, making it clear to all that in this new era, it's his way or the highway. Ramos goes to the market and picks players yet to bloom, not quite ready to go yet, in a clear attempt to develop them, doctrinate them, in the "Madrid Mindset", something of a personal project the coach is hatching. To do so, he trusts the present team of veterans to perform this season; having worked with some half of the actual Starting XI players, he knows what they are capable of, and chooses a more conservative way to promote change. He ends up buying exciting young players, all with less than 25 years of age, to slow but steadly, take the torch from the actual starters.

Domestically, the team fails to impress en la Copa de España, losing 2-0 to Atleti in the Quarter-Finals, after having a player sent off in the initial 10 minutes of the match. In La Liga, after a fierce year-long battle with Barcelona, decided on the last round after los culés draw 2-2 against Real Sociedad in the Camp Nou, Madrid wins their first league trophy under Ramos, capping 88 points. Alexander Isak, with 29 goals in 28 games, is top scorer.

The Europa League, a relatively new competition for Madrid, turns out to really be subpar to the club's ambitions. With zero losses in over 16 games, Ramos, for the second year in a row, with two different teams, wins the Europa League, beating Wolves 3-0 in the finals, with a goal from Casemiro, the captain, who was playing the last match for the club. This, plus winning La Liga, grants Madrid the Double and the right to play the Champions League next year.

Market wise, this year marks the end of an era. Karim Benzema, Nacho Fernandez, Eden Hazard, Luka Modric and Casemiro all play their last season for the club.

Players IN: Bruno Guimarães (BRA); Steven Alzate (COL); Ibrahima Konaté (FRA); Alan Mozo (MEX); Nuno Tavares, Romário Baró (POR); Rúben Blanco (SPA); Alexander Isak (SWE) and Yangel Herrera (VEN).

Players OUT: Luka Modric (CRO); Martin Odegaard (NOR); Luis Alberto and Nacho Fernández (SPA).

- All hired players MUST have in-game face.