Real Madrid: What Lies Ahead for The Squad

Real Madrid are Champions. They won the Champions League and La Liga. Winners never sleep, so nobody expected them to rest on their laurels and stagnate. 

As the summer approaches its midpoint, many wonder what moves Florentino Perez might still make for the club as they sort out various exits and incoming signings. Do they need more signings? What are the main expected changes – and what would their impact be? Everything is answered in today’s column.

Kylian Mbappé: The Signing Of The Season

The biggest, and by far the most significant addition to the Real Madrid squad is none other than PSG’s Kylian Mbappé. Florentino Perez has been pursuing this jewel for half a decade, and it is only natural that half of the club’s finances will go to Real Madrid’s new superstar. 

Jude Bellingham provided the first glimpse of star power following Benzema’s exit, but the real firepower will come with the inclusion of the Frenchman. 

Another important addition is Endrick, who is viewed as a long-term project, similar to Vinicius Jr.’s early days. He is likely to take time to adapt, but the club is prepared to invest in his development, expecting to reap the rewards in a few years.

Watch Out For A Few Exits

For the attack, these signings are great news. But there are a couple of exits that might necessitate further market activity. Joselu left despite Real Madrid offering him a contract extension, seeing his minutes threatened by the arrival of Mbappé and Endrick. It’s not a bad argument, but this means that Real Madrid does not have any second-role forwards in its squad. 

This means that the club would rely on a thin squad, even with Arda Güler included as a winger. Güler grew into his role in the last months of the campaign, but this essentially leaves Carlo Ancelotti with limited options for substitutes.

This scenario is sub-optimal, particularly considering the injury crisis that has become an epidemic across the continent.

None of this means that the club needs a forward, and it would not be a priority. However, Joselu’s contribution to Real Madrid’s titles was not insignificant, and someone will have to fill in the void. 

It would not be surprising to see Los Blancos jump on a late market opportunity in the final days of the transfer window even if this is somewhat uncharacteristic of the club.

How Will Ancelotti Cope Without Toni Kroos?

While the topic remains focused on exits – there is one departure that nobody is sure of how it will be replaced: Toni Kroos – who decided to call it a day and retired after more than a decade spent with the club. 

Kroos acted as a maestro in the last few years; there is no comparable profile. There is nobody similar to Kroos, now or in history. His partner in crime, Luka Modrić decided to remain at the club, but it means that the most essential part of Carlo Ancelotti’s midfield is gone. 

It can be argued that both Tchouaméni and Camavinga should find a way to replicate his impact, but it also means that the midfield suddenly looks thinner. Whether this situation calls for new targets in the transfer market is a valid question.

The Curious Case of Andriy Lunin

Another exit that has sparked discussion in Madrid’s AS and Marca is the future of Andriy Lunin.

The Ukrainian goalkeeper remained the backup to Thibaut Courtois, but everything changed last season. The Belgian Wall had to step away from the pitch due to injuries, which meant that Lunin temporarily became the first-choice goalkeeper. It worked rather well — Lunin was reliable, and it’s as if he was too good to repeatedly rot on the bench. 

Various rumours have surrounded Lunin’s name, with a few linking him to Premier League clubs. A question for Real Madrid is whether they would be willing to let him leave after such a strong campaign. 

However, doubts can be cast over his recent form, given that his EURO 2024 campaign was different—he appeared clumsier than he ever did throughout the season. It can be argued that there was not much he could do, as Ukraine’s team seemed mentally absent from the tournament. 

On Carvajal, Mendy And Future Targets

As has become a yearly tradition, Real Madrid should be looking to gradually transition away from Dani Carvajal. 

Carvajal has had a great campaign, including a strong performance at EURO 2024, but it’s not without reason that Real Madrid has repeatedly been linked with Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold. 

The move is unlikely, as the youngster is highly valued by Liverpool, and as an academy graduate, he values the Scousers more than anything. However, this interest hints at the type of player Los Blancos might target in the future.

Real Madrid has also shown interest in Bayern’s Alphonso Davies. The Canadian full-back burst onto the scene a few years ago as a converted winger. Real Madrid lacks that type of threat from the back, which could greatly complement Vinicius Jr’s intentions in the half-space. 

The Limitations Of Vinicius Jr

One of the most important limitations at the moment is that Ferland Mendy’s contributions beyond the halfway line are heavily restricted by his unwillingness to advance forward. 

Arguably, if Vinicius Jr is paired with someone who can occupy the wide advanced spaces on the left wing, it is less likely that defenses will double-team him. 

Davies, a physical phenomenon who is able to run up and down the pitch, could be that player. He is approaching the final years of his contract with Bayern, and renewal negotiations have stalled, partly due to his interest in Real Madrid.

In the last years, Real Madrid has not invested in the position since acquiring Ferland Mendy a few years ago. While he is far from being a liability, he limits the offensive potential of the team, which is where Alphonso Davies becomes an interesting option.

The Awaited Comeback Of David Alaba

Another crucial factor is the availability of David Alaba. Injured throughout the season, the Austrian centre-back would add a new dimension to Real Madrid’s defence, but his impact depends on the speed of his recovery. 

It’s expected he will be ready soon, but even with his inclusion, the squad looks somewhat thin in the center-back area. Hiring a new center-back would also avoid forcing Aurélien Tchouaméni back to the center-back area, a role he can fulfill but is not ideally suited for. 

Not Many Changes Are Expected

Overall, it’s unlikely that Madrid will change much to the current roster. The financial impact of signing Kylian Mbappé necessitates a pause in additional signings, as he comes as one of the highest-paid athletes in the world. 

The biggest question remains whether Camavinga and Tchouaméni can find a way to effectively organize the team without Toni Kroos. In terms of signings, it’s unlikely that another midfielder will be brought in, as it’s not seen as an urgent need. They mostly needed to strengthen the attack – which they have successfully done.