Real Madrid is just days away from saying goodbye to Carlo Ancelotti at the Santiago Bernabéu. The Italian coach will experience his last match of the season this Saturday, May 24, at 4:15 p.m. against Real Sociedad. The Italian’s last dance will give way to the arrival of Xabi Alonso on the bench with a huge challenge ahead after a lackluster season in which many issues must be resolved in order to improve the team’s performance both for the Club World Cup and for a season in which they will once again fight for titles.
The arrival of Xabi and the decisions to be made
The casting for Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid has begun. The coach will take up his post in the coming weeks and there are several players in the squad who are aware that their place in the starting eleven is in question. Awaiting the arrival of the new coach and a conversation with him, there is currently a cloud of uncertainty surrounding them. Players such as Modric and his contract renewal, Rodrygo, Camavinga, Lunin, Mendy, Alaba and Fran García are all on the chopping block.
In Alaba’s case, Real Madrid wants to sell him in the summer before he enters the final year of his contract. The center back has spent much of the season injured, and with the arrival of Huijsen, he knows that he will be last on the list of players available for selection, so it cannot be ruled out that the player himself will want a change of scenery.
As for Camavinga, Xabi Alonso has asked for the arrival of a central midfielder and seems more inclined to grant Modric’s wish to renew for another year, given his reliability, than to keep the French midfielder, who is currently injured and has had a very inconsistent season in terms of performance.
The left-back is a problem
Another issue that Xabi Alonso must address is the left-back position. Real Madrid is well aware that it needs to strengthen that area of the field and has been scouring the market for months. Álvaro Carreras now appears to be the favorite, with negotiations already at an advanced stage. The player, who knows the club well from his time in the youth academy, would cost around $50 million.
The problem is that if a new player arrives, someone else will have to leave. Everything indicated that Fran García was surplus to requirements, as he has not been trusted by Carlo Ancelotti and has offers to leave. However, in recent weeks, the idea that Ferland Mendy will leave the team has gained momentum. The player is currently injured and will not make it to the World Cup. In addition, it has been reported that his injury could be chronic, so his future at the club is not guaranteed, which would see him leave the Santiago Bernabéu.
According to Eduardo Inda, “Fran García will continue at Real Madrid and fight to establish himself as the left-back. Xabi Alonso rates him highly and is counting on him for the future,” explained the OK Diario journalist. This option had already been speculated for weeks, although it cannot be ruled out that both players could be let go and there could be a double signing for the left side of the defense.