Why real Madrid bought James ?

He has spent his whole career to date playing in lesser leagues and though he aptly displayed this summer that he is ready to step up and make his mark on world football, his €88m price tag certainly seems steep for someone so untested.

James is not a player Madrid are crying out for. They already have star quality in abundance in attack and finding a tactical system to fit everyone in is going to prove very difficult. Despite this, Madrid are willing to pay the fourth highest transfer sum in history. 

Arsene Wenger had expected James to hone his skills in the Principality club's upcoming Champions League campaign. "I doubt he'll move this year because Monaco will play in the Champions League next season. But in the next season or two he'll want to move somewhere else."

But, at the end of the day, this is Real Madrid and they always want the shiniest new toy on the market. And in James they are set to sign a player who is very much in vogue after a fantastic World Cup. Whether or not he is really needed is another question altogether