Real Madrid advances in the Club World Cup with the team focused on the pitch, while in the offices they have one eye on the transfer market. The Whites are clear that negotiations for Álvaro Carreras must resume once the tournament is over, but they are not ruling out further moves, although the competition is fierce and operations cannot be prolonged for too long.
Real Madrid has not ruled out signing a center back
Real Madrid tried out a three-man defense against Salzburg with Rüdiger, Tchouaméni, and Dean Huijsen, and it worked well. The decision to go with this formation suggests that the club may need to sign another center back, as there are many unknowns in the heart of the defense. On the one hand, there is Alaba’s new injury. On Friday, the club issued a medical statement saying that he had been diagnosed with a muscle injury in his left calf. He will be out for about three weeks, meaning he will not be available for the rest of the Club World Cup if Madrid progresses to the final.
Injuries have been a burden for the Whites, with Eder Militao tearing his cruciate ligament for the second time, Rüdiger playing for months in pain before undergoing surgery, and Alaba unable to get back on his feet. The club’s plan is to rejuvenate the squad and has already taken a step in that direction with the signing of 20-year-old Dean Huijsen.
In addition, Rüdiger and Alaba, both over 30, are out of contract next season, so the club is already considering options for the future, such as Valencia player Christian Mosquera or Castello Lukeba. The former’s contract expires next summer, while Lukeba has a €90 million release clause in his contract, but RB Leipzig is willing to negotiate. On the other hand, there is also Konaté. Like Mosquera, the center back’s contract expires in the summer of 2026, and Liverpool’s first renewal offer has not been accepted by the player.
Arsenal also has its sights set on Mosquera… while waiting for Rodrygo
In the case of Valencia center back Christian Mosquera, there is a problem in that Arsenal is interested and willing to make an offer for the player this summer. According to the newspaper Superdeporte, Andrea Berta has set a limit of between €20 million and €25 million for his transfer, an amount that could satisfy Valencia’s interests if a replacement is found. In the same vein, Fabrizio Romano points out that Arsenal has reached a full agreement on personal terms with Christian Mosquera. A new proposal will be presented after Valencia rejected an initial offer of €14 million. Arsenal hopes to close the deal for a fee in excess of €20 million, with negotiations underway.
This means that Real Madrid and Arsenal’s paths cross once again, while the Premier League club waits to see what happens with Rodrygo. Mikel Arteta is very keen on the Brazilian and they are willing to make a big investment in him, but everything will depend on whether he wants to leave and how long the deal takes to go through. In fact, the English club is already considering alternatives.