Heading towards the 2025-26 campaign, Real Madrid fans are blasting out in excitement as Xabi Alonso took the job, cooking up something new at the inventory. They have already signed many players to address the problems and are trying to build a compact side.
Though losing 4-0 to Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-final of the Club World Cup was a huge setback, it punctured the expectations of followers.
Last summer, under Carlo Ancelotti, the Whites went trophyless, humbled on many occasions when they could have succeeded. However, Xabi’s arrival is a symbolic move towards the modernity of football. Once a player, he later managed the club academy in his early coaching days, as he was already familiar with the environment of the club. So, ahead of the season, expectations are too high.
Are Signings Good Enough For Real Madrid?
Real Madrid signed Trent Alexander-Arnold, Alvaro Carreras, Franco Mastantuono, and Dean Huijsen to settle the roles, not just what Xabi requires, but it was fatal for a long period. Injured Dani Carvajal and an extensive workload on Fran Garcia cause enormous fatigue in both the Left Back and Right Back positions.
Currently, the team needs one full back who can invert, step into the midfield, and play deep deep-lying playmaker role. Trent Alexander can play the role as he did in the Club World Cup matches. While out of Possession, he has to play a slightly narrower role to block the midfield channels.
On the other hand, Alvaro Carreras is a traditional overlapping left-back who offers width and delivers cutbacks. He can cover Vinícius’s lack of defensive tracking.
Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid uses a 3-2 rest defence in attack, with Carreras tucking in, Militão and Huijsen central, and Trent inverting, ensuring balance, stability, and counter-protection while committing many forwards.
While signing 17-year-old Argentine teen Franco Mastantuono is a great investment. Not ready for big minutes yet, but has qualities to fit in the XI. Using agility and quick turns to evade pressing midfielders, he can carry the ball in tight spaces, too. His ability to press and recover possession quickly helps Madrid in rotation.
Last but top of the list is Ex-Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen. Injury to Eder Militão and David Alaba on many occasions in the first half of the season left Real Madrid in a horrible condition. Last season, even when Antonio Rüdiger was not available for some matches, Federico Valverde had to pair up with Asensio.
Huijsen is a solid ball-playing defender who helps build up and also plays an anchor role in compacting the back three.
The Challenges
Mbappe and Vini both prefer the left channel, as there is a chance of overloading, like last season. Depending on Xabi, how would he manage the shape, especially in the defence-to-attack transition phase.
If both of Madrid’s forwards end off chasing left, then it will upset the balance of width and fluidity.
Although after spending a respectable amount, Real Madrid solved the fullback issue. But with Trent’s inverts and Carreras’s wide overlaps, the team has to cover a lot of gaps during the transition.
First Season Without Modrich
Since 2012-13, it is the first season for Real Madrid without Luka Modric. Pairing up alongside Kross, the Crotian International dictates the tempo of the game. Last season, when Toni Kross hung up his boots, the team got a little fade. Now, Modric’s departure for AC Milan will force them to find a perfect replacement who can excel in the tight spaces, provide creativity between the lines.
One of the charismatic players, Federico Valverde, may replace him; however, Xabi has plans to start him from a little bit deeper. While Bellingham is good at carrying the ball to connect with forwards.
Newly signed Franco Mastantuono is still very young but stylistically closer to Modrić. Could grow into Madrid’s long-term midfield orchestrator.
The New La Fábrica No.9
Gonzalo García, Real Madrid academy prodigy, can provide an edge to this team on the field. Scoring 4 goals with one assist at the Club World Cup shows the fantastic potential he has. Xabi likes young talents, so we can expect the 21-year-old will get the proper game time to cultivate himself. Lethal with one-touch finishes, it follows the instructions of playing drop to link up the game.
Ahead of the season, the team has Arda Guler, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Eduardo Camavinga, and Rodrygo on the sheet, strengthening their base. But it will be a matter of time to do things perfectly.
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