Real Madrid will start 2024 as a leader. At the top of La Liga, the Merengues, who have the same number of points as Girona (45 points), nevertheless experienced complicated times at the end of 2023. In fact, several players from the first team were injured. From Eduardo Camavinga to Vinicius Jr, via Thibaut Courtois, Eder Militão and more recently David Alaba, the Merengues have not been spared from physical problems. Despite this, several Spanish media assured that the residents of the Santiago Bernabéu stadium would not recruit this winter.
An expected defender
But this Monday, Marca explains that the managers are not very excited about the Antonio Rüdiger – Nacho pair. Aurélien Tchouameni also helps out in the middle, but he is not a specialist in the position. For all these reasons, but also because the capital club has several titles to seek, Florentino Pérez mandated Juni Calafat to find the rare pearl. But it will not be Raphaël Varane, whom the Madrilenians do not plan to repatriate. The names of Gonçalo Inácio (22 years old, Sporting CP) and Robert Renan (20 years old, Zenit) are mentioned by A.S..
At the same time, the Spaniards have several important issues to resolve within the current squad. This will be the case for Joselu and Kepa. If the first is a priori going to stay, the second is not guaranteed to continue the adventure. However, a few weeks ago, Madrid were ready to keep him permanently. But his performances and his injury relaunched the debates with Lunin. The La Liga leaders must also manage the famous overtime project. In 2024, Luka Modric, Lucas Vazquez, Nacho and Toni Kroos will be at the end of their contract and therefore free to commit wherever they wish. For the Croatian, he will make his decision at the end of the season, like last year.
Several players reach a turning point
Vazquez, for his part, is for continuing the adventure according to A.S.. Back in favor, Kroos does not want to rush. It excludes nothing, not even stopping at the top ensures Marca. Finally, the faithful Nacho asks himself questions. Especially since his club wants to recruit a new player in his position. Real Madrid will also have to decide quickly for Carlo Ancelotti, free at the end of the season and being courted by Brazil. But the Mister is likely to continue. Madrid will have to manage the cases of players under contract until 2025 and therefore free in a year and a half. The idea will be not to be in a weak position this summer or next season.
If we put Eder Militão aside, since he will extend, there are three other players in this case. We thus find Ferland Mendy, who no longer seems to be unanimous. Especially since Madrid wants to recruit Alphonso Davies for his position. Extending Mendy therefore does not seem to be a priority for Florentino Pérez. The president of Real Madrid will also have to make a decision for Dani Carvajal and Andriy Lunin. Between the recruitment of a central defender, free players in 2024 and 2025, the Spaniards have eleven burning issues on the table to manage. Twelve if we also mention the file of n°9. Kylian Mbappé (PSG) and Erling Haaland (Man City) are on pole. The leaders of Real Madrid have their work cut out for them!
