Xabi Alonso has had little more than a month and six Club World Cup matches since arriving at Real Madrid to try things out and help the squad forget old habits and acquire a new way of playing. During this process, there have been four players he has been unable to call upon for matches and on whom he will now have to make decisions as they return to work. We are talking about David Alaba, Ferland Mendy, Eduardo Camavinga, and Endrick.
Back to work
Real Madrid already has a date for the return to work. Barring any changes to the schedule, the team will have exactly 15 days of preseason training, with Xabi Alonso setting the return to work for August 4. This means that the players will have 24 days of vacation, but the team will only have two weeks to prepare for the start of the season. The agreement establishes three consecutive weeks of vacation, and the club will comply with it. Real Madrid was eliminated from the World Cup on July 9, and that is when the clock started ticking.
When they return to work, Xabi Alonso hopes to have the entire squad available, with the exception of Bellingham, who is out after surgery, and Mendy, who continues to recover from an injury that is taking longer than expected. He did not play in the World Cup and did not even travel to the United States. Alaba, Camavinga, and Endrick did travel, although they did not make their debuts with the team.
Alaba and his constant injuries
Since he first tore his left cruciate ligament in 2023, Alaba has spent more time in the infirmary than on the pitch. He has suffered a string of injuries that have prevented him from helping the team on the pitch. Xabi Alonso kept an eye on him in the United States, but the truth is that his fitness, his age, his high salary for being practically the last option in defense, added to the fact that his contract expires next summer, mean that the door is open for him to leave. The player is clinging to his contract, although he knows he will not get much playing time.
Mendy, a complete unknown
The full-back was returning from injury in the Copa del Rey final and suffered a relapse with a torn proximal tendon in his right quadriceps. Mendy underwent surgery and is still recovering. His recovery could be delayed until October, and there is talk that his problems could become chronic. With the arrival of Carreras and the great performance of Fran García, it cannot be ruled out that the door will open for the Frenchman, who they are willing to let go for a low fee given his current form.
Camavinga and untapped potential
Real Madrid has always had a lot of confidence in Camavinga’s talent, and now it will be up to Xabi Alonso to see how important he is in a midfield that has proven to be lacking something. In the final days of Real Madrid’s training camp in Miami, Camavinga was available again after injury. The injury came after a very inconsistent season, largely due to his time in the infirmary and his performance on the pitch.
Now, he will be back to full fitness when training resumes and it will be up to the coach to decide. If he can stay injury-free, he could be a key player for Real Madrid’s midfield, where Arda Güler is in the process of becoming the player he is expected to be and where Bellingham will not be available.
Endrick and his new role
Endrick has not been present during the Club World Cup due to an injury he picked up in the final days of the competition. However, the youngster traveled to the United States for the final stage of the tournament and even trained with the group again, but he suffered a relapse of his significant muscle problem in his hamstring tendon, which has forced him to rest for two months.
Although the option of a loan move was considered in order to give him more playing time and allow him to develop, the player and those around him have always been clear that he wants to stay and fight for his place at Real Madrid. He will presumably have to compete with Gonzalo and Mbappé for a place in the starting line-up, although there has been speculation that Xabi Alonso may play him on the right wing.