Football General Manager
Xabi Alonso was in damage control mode after Real Madrid were knocked out of the Club World Cup. He described Los Blancos’ loss to PSG as the final game of the 2025 season and pointed out that the real work starts a couple of weeks on from then, once Madrid have had time to rest and he can properly evaluate his squad.
The Club World Cup did, however, put into perspective how much of an issue he may well have. Madrid are full of world-class individuals, but lack in cohesion and their squad depth is shallow in a few areas. The signing of Alvaro Carreras has addressed one of those issues – bringing in a solid left-back – but as the summer drags on, there is a lingering sense that this Madrid rebuild isn’t quite finished.
Indeed, there remain some missing pieces. Luka Modric’s departure has left a need for a veteran presence, while they still have a Rodrygo issue to sort out, with the Brazilian’s future remaining far from certain. Away from that issue, it’s hard to imagine Alonso wouldn’t welcome further reinforcements with open arms, with left-wing being the only area where Madrid are truly blessed with options.
So what comes next in the summer rebuild? BALLGM takes a look at where Los Blancos’ priorities should lie…
Xabi Alonso was in damage control mode after Real Madrid were knocked out of the Club World Cup. He described Los Blancos’ loss to PSG as the final game of the 2025 season and pointed out that the real work starts a couple of weeks on from then, once Madrid have had time to rest and he can properly evaluate his squad.
The Club World Cup did, however, put into perspective how much of an issue he may well have. Madrid are full of world-class individuals, but lack in cohesion and their squad depth is shallow in a few areas. The signing of Alvaro Carreras has addressed one of those issues – bringing in a solid left-back – but as the summer drags on, there is a lingering sense that this Madrid rebuild isn’t quite finished.
Indeed, there remain some missing pieces. Luka Modric’s departure has left a need for a veteran presence, while they still have a Rodrygo issue to sort out, with the Brazilian’s future remaining far from certain. Away from that issue, it’s hard to imagine Alonso wouldn’t welcome further reinforcements with open arms, with left-wing being the only area where Madrid are truly blessed with options.
So what comes next in the summer rebuild? BALLGM takes a look at where Los Blancos’ priorities should lie…
Luka Modric’s time at Real Madrid was up. He is past his best by now, his minutes decreasing year-after-year. He can still be a useful footballer, and will likely be a decent addition for Milan, either as an occasional starter or reliable bench option. But at Madrid, he was becoming a bit of an expensive barrier. Carlo Ancelotti said almost three years ago that Modric should prepare for a “moment of change” at the Santiago Bernabeu, and it has finally come.
The issue is, it tends to help when you release a player that you have someone new ready to step in. Modric, as a figurehead and with his specific skillset, is practically impossible to replace. There is no one quite like him, and there likely never will be again. Madrid perhaps see an imperfect alternative in the immensely talented, but still raw, Arda Guler, who has shown moments of quality without truly making his mark in Madrid white.
What Los Blancos need – and what they have lacked since Toni Kroos left – is a veteran centre-midfielder who can hold things down and keep heads cool in the big games. This is not the place for flustered youth still learning their craft. Franco Mastantuono looks a fine talent, who will add some attacking thrust. But Madrid could do with a tempo setter – less frantic, more composed. It’s a hyper-specific role, but one big clubs tend to make use of. Modric was masterful at it. Madrid need a new one.
When will there be an end to this saga?! It’s tiresome at this point. Rodrygo is a top good left winger who is being used either as a No.9 or occasionally on the right. It worked under Carlo Ancelotti in the early days, or when he was coming off the bench to cause havoc, but he needs a move to a club that will maximise his talents as a left winger. It’s what is best for him – and Rodrygo probably knows it, too.
Arsenal looked a possible destination for some time, especially given their need for a left wing upgrade over the struggling Gabriel Martinelli, but their shift in focus to finding a No.9, and subsequent signing of Chelsea‘s Noni Madueke to play on either flank, has seen the chatter cool down. Liverpool have been mentioned here and there, as have Man City sporadically.
From Madrid’s point of view, it really doesn’t matter where he ends up. Rodrygo is surplus to requirements on the left, the wrong fit on the right, and steadily becoming a very expensive distraction. He would fetch a pretty penny, too, that can be reinvested pretty much anywhere else in the squad. Time to get to work.
At the Trent Alexander-Arnold unveiling, Florentino Perez devilishly announced that Real Madrid and Liverpool have a great relationship. It was a bit of a punch in the face to Reds fans.
The England full-back’s departure will likely hurt on Merseyside for quite some time – the signing of Jeremie Frimpong notwithstanding. And now, it seems Madrid are back for more. Ibrahima Konate seemed set to sign a new contract to stay with Liverpool less than a year ago, but talks broke down, and it has been reported that Madrid have shown serious interest in signing the player, whose contract ends at the end of the 2025-26 season. From a Madrid perspective, it makes almost too much sense. They don’t really have a reliable right centre-back, with Antonio Rudiger preferring to play on the left – and his best days might be behind him. Konate, meanwhile, is 26 and, on his day, is one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League. He also prefers to play on the right side of the pairing.
And with Madrid’s injury problems at the back – Eder Militao still isn’t full fit after undergoing ACL surgery last year – Konate is more of a need than a want. They would be wise to cough up now if they want a player who might be crucial for Liverpool the closer we get to the start of the new season.
It seems that the window for Vinicius to depart has passed. It remains very difficult to see a world in which Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius can play together – at the Club World Cup, Madrid looked better with one of them plus Gonzalo Garcia in the side – but the Brazilian doesn’t seem to be going anywhere.
The irony here is that Madrid possess two of the best five players in the world, and, when they’re on song, they’re the best attacking duo world football can provide – and by some distance. The issue is that it seldom happens. The obvious fact is that they play in the same position, and play it remarkably similarly, too. Alonso tried to experiment in the United States over the summer, sticking Vinicius on the right, or coaxing Mbappe towards the centre, but it never looked fluid.
The Madrid boss, it’s fair to say, is stuck with the two of them, with neither really wanting to leave. Madrid now have to commit to Vini long-term, if only to shut everyone else up. The onus is now on Alonso to find the tactics that sufficiently play to both players’ strengths. It should be an excellent problem to have.
If Rodrygo isn’t the man, who plays on the right? Madrid have a bunch of players who could make it work without being particularly convincing – or them needing to be played elsewhere. Ironically, Federico Valverde might be the best option in a 4-3-3, but he is needed more in central midfield, or even at right-back. Brahim Diaz could also do it, but he’s not quite at the level required to play week in, week out. Guler, too, is an intriguing option, but Alonso has made it clear that he sees the Turkey international as a deep-lying playmaker.
What Madrid really need is an excellent dribbler who can hold width and offer a good turn of pace on the right. The issue is, that kind of player isn’t readily available in the market. Mohamed Salah, Bukayo Saka and Lamine Yamal are comfortably the top three but all are undoubtedly unattainable. Outside of that there’s a bit of a drop off, with, ironically, PSG’s Desire Doue seeming to have a Madrid Galactico arc in his future. It’s probably a bit too soon for him but, either way, Madrid need a permanent option out wide who can let the guys in the middle cook.
Trent is the main man on the right now, that much is clear. He will play either as a right wing-back or as a more conservative right-back, depending on how Alonso wants to set up. Lucas Vazquez was going to be his presumptive backup, but he announced his Madrid exit earlier this week. That leaves Los Blancos with Valverde, who is a back-up in about six different positions, as well as the injury-prone Eder Militao to flesh out the position. It’s a confusing spot to be in. With the addition of Alvaro Carreras, Madrid now have four recognised left-backs, but just one option on the right.
The academy isn’t exactly rife with right-back talent either, which leaves Alonso with a bit of a conundrum. There isn’t much sense spending big on a right-back, but they could certainly use a little extra depth there. A Joselu bargain-bin-type signing to flesh things out could be the way forward, if only to offer some minutes when Trent needs a rest.
