One of the weaknesses detected this season at Real Madrid has been in defense. Whether due to a plague of injuries or the poor performance of players expected to be key contributors, the defensive line has significantly lowered the overall performance of the team. For this reason, the Whites rushed to take advantage of the special transfer window during the Club World Cup to strengthen this area of the pitch with the arrival of right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold and center back Dean Huijsen.
The young Spanish defender arrives to strengthen and rejuvenate a defensive core where, with the exception of Asencio and Militao, all players are over 30, and Rüdiger and Alaba, in particular, are out of contract next summer. For this reason, Real Madrid has a couple of players on its agenda for whom steps are already being taken, as they will be free next summer and the club wants to take advantage of the option of signing them without a transfer fee.
Rüdiger and Alaba’s contracts are up
Two of the defensive stalwarts have not had a good year in terms of injuries. Both underwent surgery in the final weeks of the season and are now training with the group to get some playing time in the Club World Cup under Xabi Alonso. Both have in common that their contracts expire next summer and their future is still up in the air.
Rüdiger has had offers to leave this summer, but the German has made it clear that he does not want to leave Real Madrid this summer. As we said, the player’s contract expires in 2026 and his age, as well as the knee problems he has been struggling with all season, could mark the end of his time at Real Madrid to try his luck in a less demanding league.
As for Alaba, the club would open the door for him to leave this summer to cash in on his departure before he can leave for free next summer. He is one of the highest-paid players on the squad for the limited playing time he is expected to see with the arrival of Huijsen. It seems clear that once his contract expires, he will not continue at Real Madrid.
Two center backs in the spotlight
The objective of strengthening the defense has been a priority this summer, but also in the long term, and for this reason, the club is keeping an eye on two players whose contracts are expiring and who could arrive without a transfer fee after the large investment made this summer. José Félix Díaz, a journalist for Diario MARCA, claims that the Merengue technical department is aware of the situation of Cristhian Mosquera, a center back for Valencia, and Konaté, who plays for Liverpool.
The club is keeping an eye on the Valencia youth player, who has not yet renewed his contract and will be a free agent next summer. Leipzig is the club most interested in the player, but Real Madrid has now entered the bidding with force. Konaté has been on the white team’s agenda for some time, and they would like to follow the steps that brought Trent to Real Madrid.
Joan Martínez in first-team dynamics
Joan Martínez has recovered from his injury and is expected to play this season for Castilla. Madrid plans to integrate Valdebebas’ most promising defender into the first team, and Xabi Alonso will be keeping an eye on him. For now, he has players like Jacobo Ramón ahead of him, while he gains experience after a year out with a cruciate ligament injury. The player has a bright future ahead of him and the club wants him to continue gaining prominence.