Real Madrid are having a season characterized by the team’s poor performance and constant criticism of a large part of the squad. The team’s latest results so far in April are just a consequence of something that has been coming almost since the beginning of the season. Individual quality has been saving the bad team play of a white team that may be left without titles in this month of April.
One of the shortcomings that Real Madrid has blamed this season has been that they have been relying on their compass. Since the departure of Toni Kroos from Real Madrid, the Whites have been scouring the market for a midfielder who can fill that void. Since his departure from the club, the Whites have felt a void that is hard to fill. Carlo Ancelotti has placed his trust in Ceballos for this task, who, before his injury, was performing at a high level, changing the minds of those who wanted him out of the Santiago Bernabéu.
The list of Real Madrid candidates
In recent months, different names have been mentioned to fill the void, but only a few are among Florentino’s favorites for the final signing: names like Zubimendi, Wirtz, Vitinha, Barella and Kimmich.
In their search for a replacement to match the German, Real Madrid, despite Ceballos’s great performance, have a clear favorite on their agenda. His name is Martín Zubimendi, a Real Sociedad player. In the bidding war for the player, Arsenal have already made it clear that they are willing to pay the Txuriurdin’s buy-out clause in the summer market, but Real Madrid are not giving up the fight to have the player in their ranks and are in ‘increasingly intense’ talks to sign the Real player.
Real Madrid are already thinking about their next Galactico, who is none other than Florian Wirtz. Florentino Pérez would like the German player to hold out for a year without renewing with Bayer Leverkusen, and leave for free in 2026. Florian Wirtz has been one of Real Madrid’s main targets for several months now. The president of the white club, Florentino Pérez, sees in the German one of those signings that raise the level of a team, but the young midfielder is not yet entirely sure about taking the step up to LaLiga.
Joshua Kimmich is another of the most popular. The profile of the German footballer, all other things being equal, is very similar to that of Kroos in Ancelotti’s team, perhaps with a little less precision when it comes to hitting the ball (because Kroos was the best at that), but with a little more mobility. His style of play is what Real Madrid are lacking. However, bringing in the player goes against Real Madrid’s transfer policy, which is not used to adding footballers over the age of 30 to its ranks.
Vitinha, a talent that seduces the Bernabéu. Vitinha’s style of play fits in perfectly with what Real Madrid are looking for. His ability to distribute the ball, his vision of the game and his ability to get into the opposition’s box are qualities that make him a complete and versatile midfielder.
Another name that is being mentioned is Nicolo Barella for the next summer market in 2025. The Whites want to be quite clear about their moves and after Mbappé, it will be time to replace Luka Modric, who is facing his last season in Ancelotti’s team.
Kroos to be at the Champions League return leg
Real Madrid will be looking for a Champions League comeback miracle and to do so they will have a secret weapon. The Whites will ‘sign up’ Toni Kroos to encourage his former teammates in the difficult, but not impossible, task ahead of them.
And the fact is that Real Madrid has invited Toni Kroos to the second leg, to the box. What’s more, the German could turn up at the Bernabéu in good time to pay the players a visit and give them that last burst of energy before the game.