It’s over. There is no Champions League for the King of Europe. Real Madrid has suffered a heavy blow, being knocked out of the Champions League quarter-finals by Arsenal with an aggregate score of 5-1. The poor results of recent weeks, also in La Liga, have highlighted the shortcomings of a team that now, more than ever, is looking to the summer transfer market.
In midfield, since the departure of Toni Kroos, Real Madrid has been short of creative players. It has two, Modric and Dani Ceballos. The former is 39 years old and needs rest, and the latter was considered a permanent substitute, and when he proved otherwise, he got injured.
He was eagerly awaited for the Champions League return leg, but Ancelotti did not include him in the starting line-up. After the match at the Santiago Bernabéu, Dani Ceballos spoke about the elimination, pointing out that they gave everything they had and now they have to hold on and readjust what they did wrong.
“We knew it was going to be difficult, especially after the first game we played in London. We gave it our all, but it wasn’t enough to get through the tie, and we have to readjust the things that went wrong in this game and in this tie,” said the Utrera-born player.
“That stage of the competition is coming up a bit too soon. I think Arsenal were a bit more complete than us in both games. We didn’t have the energy and we didn’t create the chances to get ourselves into the tie,” he concluded.
Real Madrid’s list of candidates
In recent months, various names have been mentioned to fill the void, but only a few are among Florentino’s favorites to be the final signing: names such as Zubimendi, Wirtz, Vitinha, Barella, and Kimmich.
In their search for a replacement for the German, Real Madrid, despite Ceballos’ great performance, have a clear favorite on their agenda. That player is Martín Zubimendi, who plays for Real Sociedad. On the other hand, the Whites are thinking about their next galáctico, who is none other than Florian Wirtz.
Joshua Kimmich is another player they like a lot. The German footballer’s profile, with all due respect, is very similar to that of Kroos in Ancelotti’s team, perhaps with slightly less precision when striking the ball. Vitinha, a talent that seduces the Bernabéu. Vitinha’s style of play fits perfectly with what Real Madrid is looking for. Another name being mentioned is Nicolo Barella for the next summer transfer window in 2025. The club wants to be very clear about its moves and, after Mbappé, it will be time to replace Luka Modric, who is facing his last season with Ancelotti’s team.
New XXL candidate
Amid the relentless search for a new creative player for its engine room, Real Madrid has set its sights on a young talent. The Concha Espina club is following 19-year-old Warren Zaïre-Emery, who has already shown flashes of his quality with Paris Saint-Germain.
Luis Enrique’s PSG has an overbooked midfield and could let go of a player who has been valued at around €65 million. Despite Real Madrid’s interest in the young prospect, the Whites’ main interest at the Parc des Princes remains Nuno Mendes, whose performances in the French capital have been spectacular.