The end of the season is approaching and there is a lot to discuss at Real Madrid. The season has not gone as expected and the lack of titles has weighed heavily on future plans. Plans that do not include Carlo Ancelotti and in which the team is already planning signings, but also the sale of players who were once considered key but no longer have a place at the Santiago Bernabéu.
The future of Real Madrid includes reinforcements in defense and midfield, renewals, and some important departures. Nothing changes without change, and that is the process the Whites are going through as they bring an era to a close and look to renew themselves to start the new one on the right foot.
Ancelotti’s departure and Xabi Alonso’s arrival
The first of the changes, which is already an open secret, is the departure of Carlo Ancelotti from the bench. The coach’s time has come to an end after a difficult season in which his decisions have been heavily questioned. While it is true that the Italian coach has had to deal with multiple complications in the form of injuries, he has been ineffective and lacking in ideas and alternatives.
‘Carletto’ has stood firm in his convictions against all odds despite the poor results. In addition, his fixation on certain players has exacerbated the complications in the infirmary. Be that as it may, Ancelotti will no longer be Real Madrid’s coach and, although his departure for Brazil has been put on hold in recent hours, negotiations are still open and he also has an offer from Saudi Arabia on the table.
In recent months, Real Madrid has not been idle. The Whites have been looking for a coach and, although names such as Iraola, Klopp, and Conte have been mentioned, Xabi Alonso has been the clear favorite from the outset. They want the Tolosa native to take over the Santiago Bernabéu bench and change what has been done so far.
The Bayer Leverkusen coach still has a contract with the German club for next season, but he has already made and communicated his decision not to continue at the helm of the club next season. He has not yet announced his future plans, but it is widely known that he will be joining the Whites.
Upcoming signings
In terms of signings, Real Madrid has a clear roadmap for the coming weeks. The first step is to make the first signing official. The signing of Trent Alexander Arnold (Liverpool) is complete and will be announced when the season officially ends. The English full-back arrives to strengthen a position where Carvajal, who has been injured for most of the season, is the starter.
Defense is not the only area where signings are expected at Real Madrid. The club, especially in the current situation, wants to strengthen the center of the back line. Currently, the only pure center back available is Asencio, who is still registered with the reserve team but is a first-team player. Rüdiger and Alaba have undergone surgery, Vallejo is out, and Eder Militao continues to work on his recovery.
The aim of the Whites is to strengthen and rejuvenate their defense. In this regard, the name of Dean Huijsen has been mentioned for many weeks. However, the problem with signing the 19-year-old center back is his high price tag. He has a €60 million release clause that Florentino refuses to pay. Other alternatives that have been mentioned are Saliba and the arrival of Jonathan Tah on a free transfer.
Left-back is another position that Real Madrid wants to strengthen. Mendy and Fran García are not convincing, and the team has set its sights on three players. The first, Milos Kerkez, is Florentino’s favorite, and there is a lot of competition for him. Álvaro Carreras, who does not want to renew his contract in Portugal, has also been considered. Finally, Real Madrid is also considering the return of Miguel Gutiérrez, for whom it has a buy-back option for $9 million.
Finally, the need for a central midfielder is more than evident since the departure of Toni Kroos. Names such as Martin Zubimendi (Real Sociedad) and Franco Mastantuono (River Plate) have been mentioned. As well as Wirtz, who could arrive thanks to Xabi Alonso. Xabi Alonso will also have to decide on the future of Nico Paz, for whom there is also a buy-back option.
Renewals and departures up in the air
Several players are coming to the end of their contracts and their renewal is up in the air. These include Lucas Vázquez, Luka Modric, and Vallejo. In their case, the first two have some option to continue, at least until the Club World Cup, while Vallejo will definitely end his cycle on June 30.
As for departures in the form of sales, the truth is that nothing is ruled out. There are three names that were not expected to leave, but are now firm candidates to depart, fill the coffers, and reinvest that money. We are talking about Brahim, Rodrygo, and Lunin.