When Is No News Good News For Real Madrid?

Real Madrid hasn't signed anyone yet this offseason. The team is in LA preparing for the season, Mourinho looks happy, and they all seem to be getting along pretty well. The players in the Euro Cup look like they're getting right back into the swing of things--Xabi Alonso was particularly impressive against the Galaxy--and things seem to be progressing without much fanfare.

This is not a normal Real Madrid summer.

Sure, there have been rumors. Nuri Sahin might go out on loan soon. Kaká could be sold or loaned out. And hey, I'm still confident that Luka Modric will, some day soon, put on the white shirt. The Real Madrid white shirt, to avoid any confusion--Spurs wear white, too.

I have no doubt that the Olympics have had something to do with the lack of Real Madrid drama in the press: MARCA and As, the two papers that create the most Madrid-drama in the world, like nothing more than to write about Spanish sports. They are consumed with it.

And that's just fantastic news for Madrid.

Why? Because, when you have a team that just set records by being the best, most consistent side in the history of the Liga, you don't want any news. You want things to continue as they were, you want to get better, to move your team forward without any drama.

No news is good news for Real Madrid.

I'm not saying there's nothing the side can do to improve. I'm not saying that bringing Luke Modric in wouldn't be a great idea. I'm not even saying that they shouldn't be looking to jettison dead weight. No: I'm saying all of these things, in fact. I'm just saying what I think we all know: the less the press is involved in this aspect of Real Madrid's season the better.

This is a time for the team to build, without much pressure. They're looking to enhance camaraderie, to build good relations with the States and with foreign teams, and they're looking to get back into shape--none of these things have anything to do with the press, and, in fact, the press can only make it harder.

I have no doubt that Florentino Perez and company are working hard to make the roster better, to acquire new talent to fill important roster spots. And I have no doubt that when the Olympics are over there'll be a sleuth of Real Madrid-related news leaking to the papers.

But for now, I'm happy to report: all quiet on the American front.

Are you happy, too? Share your thoughts on facebook and twitter @managingmadrid.