Real Madrid is on vacation, but the return to work is just around the corner. Xabi Alonso has set the start of preseason for August 4, and there will be just 15 days of preparation in which he will have to make the necessary adjustments to perform at his best from minute one. He will have to do so without Bellingham, who will be out for a few months after undergoing surgery. The coach will have to find the best formula to replace him in midfield, which means that the younger players in the squad will have to step up. Arda Güler and Mastantouno will be under pressure.
Bellingham out of action
Jude Bellingham has undergone surgery to resolve the shoulder problems he has been suffering from for over a year. The English player wanted to take advantage of the break to have the operation and be able to return to Real Madrid as soon as possible at the highest level with his sights set on next summer’s World Cup. He is expected to be out for 10 to 12 weeks. In principle, the midfielder should be back by the end of October, although his doctors are postponing his return to full fitness until the end of the year.
“This rehabilitation process can take between two and four months before he can return to the pitch. Therefore, we hope to see Bellingham back on the football field around autumn and at his best by the end of the year,” said Dr. Patricia Núñez de Aysa, from the Rippol y Prado clinic in Madrid.
Arda Güler takes center stage with Xabi Alonso
Since the arrival of Xabi Alonso, Arda Güler has increased his prominence. During the World Cup, he played a leading role in all matches, playing more than 80% of the minutes. The coach has given him the reins of the team, as the player himself acknowledged: “He asks me to play like a 10, to get involved in the game, to direct and improve the team.” This is something he has done perfectly in several of the teams he has played for in that role.
However, not everything is rosy, as there are things to improve. Xabi Alonso is clear about this, but he has also said that he needs to improve his play. “We all have to help him, we have to give him balance. I said it yesterday, there will be things he has to improve, but you improve by playing,” he said with a smile. Against PSG, with the game on the counter and without possession, the Turkish player showed obvious weaknesses that he needs to improve, especially in the absence of Bellingham.
Mastantuono arrives: this will be his role
Real Madrid made a quick signing with Franco Mastantuono. They were interested, the opportunity arose, and the Whites didn’t hesitate. The player will experience Europe for the first time and will only be 18 when he arrives at Valdebebas in August. The pressure of joining a big club with high expectations can be a burden, and although many consider him an undisputed starter, he will have to earn his place through daily work with Xabi Alonso.
Competition in that area of the pitch is fierce, so he will have to work hard for a place in the starting line-up. He will also need time to settle in and show what he can do when he arrives in August, but Bellingham’s absence could speed things up. The player is versatile and can play in different positions, so the coach will also have to try him out to see where he fits best.