This season, Real Madrid dreamed bigger with Kylian Mbappé, the player so desired by Florentino Pérez. The Frenchman, who has experienced ups and downs, is not so bad from a statistical point of view since he displays a balance sheet of 38 goals and 4 assists in 52 appearances in all competitions. But the captain of the Blues as his club hoped better. They will not win the Champions League. La Liga, it certainly flew away Sunday after the defeat during the Clasico against FC Barcelona (defeat 4 to 3). Indeed, the Madrid is now 7 points behind the abutments three days from the end of the championship. If mathematically everything is still possible, today it seems unlikely that the Catalans will relax in the final sprint. For its part, Real Madrid will try to finish the season as best they can.
Defense, the heart of the problem
Especially since it will be necessary to do without several injured elements, like Vinicius JR or Lucas Vazquez. We will also have to remain concentrated while the bustle around the club is becoming stronger. Yesterday, Brazil formalized the arrival of Carlo Ancelotti as national coach. Real Madrid has not yet confirmed the news. The Iberian club has also not announced the arrival of Xabi Alonso, who formalized his departure from Bayer Leverkusen. But the Spanish press assures that it will be on the bench to lead the Merengues during the World Cup this summer. And he will not arrive alone since three players will accompany him. There will be Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), as well as a left side and a central defender. Strengthening the defensive sector will be a priority for residents of the Santiago-Bernabéu stadium.
This should have already been the priority last summer after Nacho's departure and recurring problems within the rearguard. But the Madrid management had decided not to offer Ancelotti the central defender he demanded. Aymeric Laporte (Al-Nassr) also had the favors of the Mister. But the requests of the Saudi club had cooled Florentino Pérez, who believed that his club could get out with the forces involved. But the Real Madrid boss, which notably offered himself Mbappé, was wrong. The Spanish capital's club has been hard this season between injuries, notably Eder Militão, David Alaba or more recently from Antonio Rüdiger, who has decreased part of the year. Ancelotti had to tinker by integrating the young Raul Asencio or by repositioning Aurélien Tchouameni behind. He also had to do without Dani Carvajal or Ferland Mendy. All this has not necessarily helped Madrid.
A Real Madrid player lets go
In the locker room, moreover, some players have not understood the club's policy at all on this subject. Indeed, Reader explains that several elements have claimed reinforcements in defense but the club's board of directors did not listen to their requests. All this created tensions, especially in January after the winter transfer window where the club did not recruit in this position. A player whose identity was kept secret became released this Tuesday with our Spanish colleagues. “With this defense in La Liga, it would be difficult to get a place in the Europa Conference League”he confessed. Strong remarks that reflect the feeling of several players in the group, very reassembled. This also reflects a certain fracture in the group since these declarations are not necessarily to the taste of incriminated people. Aware of concerns, Florentino Pérez, who must also manage the Rodrygo discomfort, is finally determined to go to the offensive. In addition to the signing of Trent Alexander-Arnold as a right side, Dean Huijsen is well placed to strengthen the central axis.
Besides, Reader explains that the Madrid president did not voluntarily signed as a central defender in January in order to let the new coach choose a recruit on his arrival. What is surprising, since the Iberian media assure that it is the club which chooses the recruits and not the coaches. This was the case with Ancelotti, who was obviously no longer in the leaders' plans for several months if we rely on the information of Readerwho adds that the players did not always understand his choices and were surprised by the little work done before the double confrontation against Arsenal in C1. Regarding the defense, a left side is also expected in Real Madrid during the offseason, which could complicate the affairs of Ferland Mendy, who has always been supported by the Mister. In addition, it will not be necessary to exclude a possible arrival in the midfield since the club has not really replaced Toni Kroos. But for the moment, the priority is to offer a new defense to Xabi Alonso. A welcome gift that will not be refused!
