Real Madrid is working to shore up its squad with the renewals of Thibaut Courtois, Brahim, and Asencio, but it also has several issues to address ahead of next summer, when Dani Carvajal, Antonio Rüdiger, and David Alaba’s contracts expire. With the latter, the decision seems to have already been made, as the club is looking to offload him this summer, but the German center back’s future remains uncertain. The club is leaning towards renewal, but wants to see the player’s performance after his injury, according to Cadena COPE.
Rüdiger and his return after injury
Antonio Rüdiger’s contract expires in 2026 and it is not ruled out that he could extend his contract with Madrid, as Thibaut Courtois is set to do. According to Cadena COPE in recent hours, the Whites want to see how the player performs after returning from injury before making a final decision. The center back underwent surgery more than two and a half months ago after suffering a partial tear of the meniscus in his left leg, in the midst of a six-match ban imposed on him after the incident in the Copa del Rey final.
The German center back returned during the Club World Cup, where, after Asencio’s mistakes in the first two games of the tournament, he was back in the starting lineup alongside Dean Huijsen and Tchouaméni. The player performed well in the games he played, although at times he looked a little hesitant. He is still not 100% fit, and that was clear during the match against PSG, where he made a serious mistake that led to a goal for the Parisian side.
Rüdiger could leave this summer
The German center back has been linked with Arab football in recent months. The player is open to ending his career in Arab football, a last big contract where he could earn a lot of money and put an end to his career as a footballer. The temptation has already come knocking this summer, but the player has remained firm in his decision to continue at Real Madrid, where he can prove that, playing without the constant injuries he suffered last season, he can return to his best form, especially in a year that ends with the World Cup. What will happen next summer when his contract expires is another matter, as neither he nor the club have yet made a firm decision on the matter.
Real Madrid looking for a center back
Given the poor performance of the defense in several World Cup matches, as well as the situation of Alaba and Rüdiger, whose contracts expire next summer, Real Madrid is considering the option of turning to the transfer market.
The favorite to shore up the center of defense is Ibrahima Konaté. The Liverpool player is clear that he wants to move to the Santiago Bernabéu next summer when his contract expires, although his signing this summer is not ruled out, subject to payment of a fee that Real Madrid wants to be around $25 million, but the English club wants at least $50 million. William Saliba, Arsenal’s center back, is also being closely monitored and could take a back seat with the arrival of Mosquera from Valencia. They are Real Madrid’s two favorites to complete the defense next summer… or sooner.