Real Madrid icon Makelele tells Perez to sign Michael Olise: ‘If there’s money to spend on just one player, it’s him’ | OneFootball

Former Real Madrid and France midfielder Claude Makelele has revealed that he urged club president Florentino Perez to sign Michael Olise before the winger’s rise with Bayern Munich and the French national team.

The 24-year-old speedster enjoyed a brilliant season with Bayern Munich and is now shining at the World Cup with France. Real Madrid have taken an interest in his situation and see him as the next Galactico signing.

Speaking to MARCA ahead of the World Cup semifinal, Makelele admitted he has long believed Olise possesses the qualities to become one of the world’s elite players.

Makelele’s message to Florentino

The legendary midfielder then revealed that he had told Perez that if there was money to spend on only one player, the club should do it on the Bayern Munich speedster.

“Michael Olise to Real Madrid? I would support it,” he said.

“I had the opportunity to speak with president Florentino Perez and I told him that if there’s money to spend on just one player, it’s him,” Makelele added.

Real Madrid like Michael Olise. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)

The former midfielder described Olise as a footballer capable of bringing back the creativity and excitement that first made fans fall in love with the game.

“Olise brings back the feeling of watching football, the taste of what we experienced as children: talent, freedom, quality, effectiveness. When he’s not on the pitch, his absence is noticeable.”

A player who can produce the unexpected

Makelele believes Olise possesses the rare ability to create moments that few players even imagine.

He compared the winger’s unpredictability to that of Lionel Messi, praising both his vision and technical quality.

“When he’s on, you sense that, at any moment, like Messi, he can do something no one expected. Look at Dembele, Mbappe, Barcola: they know he’s capable of placing the ball in a space that the other players don’t even see,” he explained.

Real Madrid told to go after Olise. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

For him, that creativity represents the very best of modern football.

“That’s the modern football we love, the football that makes fans dream. Even the commentators are amazed by his technique. He’s exceptional,” Makelele added.

No comparisons with Bellingham

Asked whether he preferred Jude Bellingham or Michael Olise, Makelele refused to choose. Instead, he argued that football should allow each great player to build his own legacy, pointing to icons like Pele and Diego Maradona.

“Jude Bellingham or Michael Olise? Let them speak for themselves. What they’re doing is exceptional. I don’t make comparisons. That’s my philosophy: you never compare the greats,” the French great said.

Continuing, he added: “You can’t compare Pele with the generations that followed him, and with Maradona, the comparisons never end. 

“Zidane left his mark on world football and it will last forever, no matter who comes after him. Let each of these lads build their career in their own way and write their own name in the history of this sport.”