Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid began training on Monday, albeit with a skeleton squad. The first training session under the Spanish coach was very low-key and featured many players from the youth team. With several players injured or away on international duty and just five days before traveling to the United States, it was a first taste of what is to come, with more players gradually joining the squad, including the new signings that have already been made official and will be presented this week.
Dean Huijsen, the center back who will shake things up
The first official signing announced by Real Madrid for next season was Spanish center back Dean Huijsen. Without a doubt, last season highlighted the team’s defensive weaknesses, and that has been the priority. The young player arrived from English club Bournemouth, where, under Iraola, and despite his youth, he made it clear that he is currently the center back with the most potential. His seriousness in defense, as well as his attacking potential, as he demonstrated in the national team’s match against France, even though his goal did not make it onto the scoreboard, convinced Florentino to give the go-ahead for a significant investment of almost $60 million for the player.
This is an investment in a player who is set to be a starter. Until last season, when injuries changed everything, the starting center-back pairing was Militao and Rüdiger. With the former out with a long-term injury, Raúl Asencio partnered the German. With the Club World Cup coming up and a number of players still out injured, the academy graduate and Huijsen are expected to be the young center-back pairing. We will have to see what happens during the season, but one player who seems to be out of the picture is David Alaba, who could be looking for a change of scenery this summer as he is not in the plans, has a very high salary, and his contract expires next season.
Huijsen’s presentation date
The center back is expected to be presented as a Real Madrid player this week, once he has finished training with the Spanish national team. As Fabrizio Romano revealed on Tuesday, Dean Huijsen will take center stage, receiving the Real Madrid shirt from Florentino Pérez and then speaking to the press.
Alexander-Arnold, the best possible full-back
The second signing to be made official was the expected arrival of Trent Alexander-Arnold. Once the English full-back decided not to renew with his hometown club, Liverpool, the way was clear for Real Madrid, who needed to fill the vacancy left by Lucas Vázquez and strengthen a position where Dani Carvajal is returning from injury and where a generational change was needed.
The announcement was delayed longer than expected as the final details had to be ironed out with an English club that wanted compensation for releasing the player early for the Club World Cup. Finally, an agreement was reached for around €5-10 million, and Xabi Alonso will have one of the best full-backs in the world with great attacking potential available for the tournament.
Arnold’s presentation date
The same source that announced Huijsen’s presentation for Tuesday has set the date for the English player’s presentation for the following day. Wednesday will be the day Alexander Arnold pulls on the Real Madrid shirt for the first time and speaks his first words as a Merengue.