As they say on the subway, you have to let people out before you get in. That’s the situation Real Madrid finds itself in. Although last season it had a small squad of 22 players, with the recent additions and the signing of Álvaro Carreras in the pipeline, it would reach the 25-player limit, so if Xabi asks for more reinforcements, the exit door will have to be opened first… And it does seem that after what we saw against PSG, the club wants to sign at least two more players, so the exit door must be opened.
The signings Xabi Alonso wants
Xabi Alonso assured after the painful defeat against PSG that there was room for signings and that now was the time to talk about it. The coach and the club are clear that if they go into the transfer market, it will be for two specific positions that have been exposed in the tournament: a midfielder and a center back. That is the priority for the Whites.
The profile of the midfielder the team is looking for is someone like Toni Kroos, whom they have not been able to replace. The search has been on for months, but Xabi Alonso’s commitment to Arda Güler had put it on hold until the match against PSG, when he became even more aware of how much the young Turkish player needs to improve defensively to be the number 5 the team needs. The player they like most for the position is Mac Allister. Liverpool are not willing to let the Argentine leave, so the deal could rise to €100 million, making it more than necessary to sell players.
On the other hand, the defensive disaster in the World Cup semifinals has opened the debate about the need to sign a center back. Dean Huijsen will be a sure starter, and the return of Eder Militao is great news, but Asencio’s disastrous performance and the injury problems of Rüdiger and Alaba, who are also out of contract next summer, have opened the floodgates. Negotiations were already underway with Konaté to sign him on a free transfer next summer, and it is not ruled out that the deal could be brought forward to this transfer window, provided that the asking price is below $30 million.
The exit door is open for these players
The exit door is open at Real Madrid, although they are clear that they will not force anyone to leave. Many of the players who are looking for a move are not keen to leave before the end of their contracts. In defense, there is a dilemma on the left wing. The arrival of Álvaro Carreras opens the door to getting rid of one of the two players in that position. Everything seemed to indicate that it would be Fran García, but his great performance in the World Cup, as well as the fact that he is Spanish and a youth product, now put him ahead of Mendy, who is still injured.
In defense, there has been talk for months about getting rid of Alaba, who can’t seem to stay injury-free and also has a very high salary. The player is clinging to his contract. The same goes for Endrick, who with the rise of Gonzalo will surely see even less playing time and would be a good option to go out on loan. However, he wants to stay and fight for his place.
Another player who has hardly featured is Ceballos, who did not play against PSG. It is true that Xabi Alonso has been opting for Modric, who will not be around after the World Cup, but the Utrera-born player wants playing time and it is not clear that he will get it at Real Madrid. Rodrygo is also unlikely to get much playing time and is increasingly looking towards the Premier League after a forgettable year.
With one eye on the Champions League
The 25 players are a problem when it comes to the Champions League, where certain requirements must be met. In the Whites’ favorite competition, 17 spots are free, but eight are reserved for players trained in the same country as the team, and at least four of those eight must have been trained (UEFA grants this status to players who have spent at least three seasons between the ages of 15 and 21) at the club itself.