Throughout the season, Real Madrid has been highly critical of the busy schedule, the lack of rest between matches, and everything that this entailed for a squad weighed down by multiple injuries. This stress and the need to work against the clock has carried over into the office work now that the season is over. The team is immersed in a change of cycle in which a small revolution is expected in the squad, all marked by the Club World Cup, which begins in just over 10 days for the team.
The World Cup is approaching and is a priority for Real Madrid
The Club World Cup kicks off in the United States on the 14th, which is the day Real Madrid is scheduled to travel to Miami to prepare for their debut on June 18. The team is traveling with enthusiasm and, in part, the expectation of returning home with the title under their belt. Florentino wants to make history in the first edition of the FIFA tournament and has therefore promised a bonus of one million euros to each of his players if they win the title.
As we said, to reach the final on July 13, Real Madrid will first have to get through the qualifying rounds. The first of these is the group stage. In the group stage, Real Madrid, in Group H, will face Al Hilal on the 18th at 9 p.m. at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. On Sunday, June 22, also at 9 p.m., they will face Pachuca at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. Finally, Xabi Alonso’s team will play their third match on Friday, June 27, at 3 a.m. Spanish time against Salzburg at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
The top two teams will qualify and go on to play in the round of 16 between June 28 and July 1. The quarter-final matches will take place between July 4 and 5. If Real Madrid advances, they will reach the semi-finals on July 8 and 9 at 9 p.m. The grand finale will be on Sunday, July 13.
Express signings
With the pressure of this major tournament looming and after a season in which the team has shown little and exposed several weaknesses, Real Madrid has got its act together with the arrival of a new coach and signings to bolster the team ahead of the World Cup. The aim is to correct mistakes as soon as possible so that the Spanish coach has a chance of winning the title and making a grand entrance at Real Madrid.
The Whites have already officially signed two players and are in the final stages of negotiations for two more to further strengthen their squad before the tournament. Defense was the priority, and therefore the most urgent signings were aimed at improving this area, which has been hit hard by injuries. The first signing came before the end of the season with Dean Huijsen joining the center of defense.
In addition, another signing that had been taken for granted for months has also been completed. We are talking about Alexander-Arnold for the right-back position.
The third signing to be announced in the coming hours is also for the defense and will be left-back Álvaro Carreras. After weeks of negotiations with Benfica, Madrid has reportedly reached an agreement to pay a fee of around €50 million, but in two installments instead of one.
The next deal will be closed before the World Cup, but the player will not play for the Whites during the tournament. We are talking about young midfielder Franco Mastantuono, who is about to undergo a medical to sign for Real Madrid, but will play the tournament with River Plate and does not yet have a specific date for his arrival at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Once things have calmed down, it is expected that after the tournament Real Madrid will not consider its task of strengthening the team complete and will look to sign another midfielder and an experienced striker to complete the attack.