The Real Deal: A Real Madrid Podcast

Sports have never been more available, and yet, many will tell you something feels a bit off about the entire ecosystem.In this episode of The Real Deal, Joel Adejola joins Sid R. to question whether the way modern sports demand attention is actually sustainable. Coaches themselves don't have time to change things from game to game, but many fans watch addictively and expect more and more. Not much changes from game to game because of the oversaturation of the schedule.With leagues expanding schedules, platforms pushing constant engagement, and fans expected to follow everything in real time, the traditional idea of “hardcore fandom” is starting to crack. Joel and Sid discuss how the system hasn’t adapted to how an increasing segment of consumers and 'selective' audiences actually live, work, and consume culture in 2026. Nowadays, a growing segment of fans doesn’t fit the old mold. They’re highly engaged thinkers, builders, and creatives — people deeply interested in strategy, culture, identity, and systems — but unwilling to surrender their entire attention span to constant consumption. They don’t watch everything. They don’t need to. And they don’t feel guilty about it.Sid discusses how even his best coverage and analysis has come from unplugging from Real Madrid as opposed to keeping neurotic tabs on everything like a head coach.We explore this alternative archetype of the modern sports fan: someone who engages selectively, thinks deeply, and values meaning over volume.

Sid and Xavier react to Real Madrid's disastrous loss to Albacete. Vinicius might have put in one of his worst performances in a long time after getting setup to succeed. Xavier walks us through the media factions and leaks behind the scenes and rumors about the changing ownership at Real Madrid, Louis Vitton, Pepe Alvarez, the Arbeloa-Alonso rift and more

Jarod Hector and Sid break down Xabi Alonso's sacking, how it's part of a larger trend of decline and mismanagement at the club, Florentino Perez's flaws and the way forward at Real Madrid.

Jarod Hector and Siddharth Ramsundar discuss the true origins of Golden State Warriors' motion offense (hint: within basketball, and not from Barcelona as many would have you imagine) and discuss both the real parallels and the more mythical PR elements behind this marketing campaign. We also discuss how the Celtics offense in 2024 with Joe Mazzulla was a more direct translation of the tiki taka principles.

Jarod Hector and Sid react to the Supercup final. Real Madrid played surprisingly well despite the result and obvious limitations in the squad: what can we take away from this game and going forward?