Real Madrid‘s incredible drive to Champions League success demonstrated the Spanish club’s unrivalled excellence and how it is never smart to rule them out. They were underdogs against PSG, Chelsea, Manchester City, and Liverpool. Yet, they enjoyed attacking explosions from the round of 16 through the semifinals before grinding out an unexpected victory against Liverpool in the final courtesy of Vinicius Jr.’s goal and Thibaut Courtois’ famous performance in goal. They fell in the group stage to a team most people had never heard of in Sheriff Tiraspol, only to end the season as Europe’s kings for a record 14th time.
Looking ahead to next season, they will undoubtedly be considered favourites to win it again. The La Liga winners are also expected to improve, preserving their core whilst adding to it. They may miss out on superstar Kylian Mbappe, who chose to stay at PSG. Still, they have the world’s finest player in Karim Benzema and a potential superstar in Vinicius Jr.
Here’s an update on the Real Madrid squad, including who they may and should pursue and much more:
- Courtois is staying.
- No one is currently joining.
- Andriy Lunin is a loan option.
Courtois‘ excellent performance in the final demonstrated that the position is in safe hands. With his incredible saves against a red-hot Liverpool onslaught, he provided proof to prove that he is the finest goalie in the world. Los Blancos are placed at that position with the Belgian, and his backup is Andriy Lunin, a highly regarded Ukrainian player. Lunin has star potential, so another loan transfer for him, after he’s already been to Leganes, Valladolid, and Oviedo, wouldn’t be strange.
Excellent Moves
Courtois is only 30. Thus there’s no need for him to make any significant moves. Gabriel Slolina has been linked, with the young American having no shortage of admirers. However, any transfer would almost certainly include a loan return to his current club, the Chicago Fire. Adding a young prospect makes a lot of sense when they look ahead. Maarten Vandervoordt of Genk would be a good move, but getting him would almost certainly require a loan transfer to obtain minutes.
Real Madrid’s Defensive Prospects
- Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao, David Alaba, Nacho, and Ferland Mendy will remain.
- Antonio Rudiger will be joining.
- Alvaro Odriozola is returning from a loan.
- Marcelo is leaving.
- Jesus Vallejo’s future is uncertain.
- Loan options include Mario Gila, Miguel Gutierrez, and Rafael Zamora.
For all of their money spent, Los Blancos now have Militao and the free transfers of Alaba last season and Rudiger this season. There’s no reason to be concerned about Nacho’s centre-back depth with his flexibility. Odriozola is a talent with a high ceiling which hasn’t made the expected impact at fullback, but he may get another shot. As Marcelo departs, they would be prudent to add to the fullback position, although Alaba can also play there.
Ideal targets include Valencia captain Jose Luis Gaya and Marcos Alonso of Chelsea. However, Alonso has previously played for the club and appears to be heading to Barcelona if he returns to Spain. Not to be concerned, they have enough quality coming through the pipeline, but Dani Carvajal is growing older. Expect them to bring in a young fullback.
Real Madrid Midfield Prospects
- Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, Marcos Asensio, Casemiro, Federico Valverde, and Eduardo Camavinga will remain.
- Reinier is returning from a loan.
- Isco is leaving.
- Aurelien Tchouameni has arrived.
- Dani Ceballos’ uncertain future
- Loan army alternatives include Antonio Blanco and Peter.
The established midfield is just going to improve. Kroos, Modric, and Casemiro will continue to lead this club in the future, with Modric just receiving a new contract extension through the summer of 2023. Some departures, with Isco leaving on a free transfer and Ceballos struggling to find a berth in the team. They already have a terrific midfield depth because of Camavinga and Valverde’s adaptability, and they are likely to add to that this summer.
Excellent Moves
What more do they need now that the transfer of French teenager Aurelien Tchouameni from AS Monaco has been completed? They need to figure out what they have in Reinier, but they don’t need to play with the position much. They will have as stacked a midfield as possible, and some young South American possibilities would be ideal. Getting Tchouameni almost probably implies they won’t be in the running for Paul Pogba if they ever were.
Real Madrid’s Attack Prospects
- Karim Benzema, Vinicius Jr., and Rodrygo are staying.
- Borja Mayoral and Takefusa Kubo are returning from loans.
- Gareth Bale, Mariano Diaz
- Luka Jovic and Eden Hazard have uncertain futures.
- Juan Latasa is a loan option.
They may need to make some changes. It’s Real Madrid, and it’s their thing. Mayoral is unlikely to be considered good enough, Jovic hasn’t been good enough, and Bale has left. Mariano will undoubtedly seek minutes elsewhere. Kubo might stay because of his promise, but they could use a backup striker or a huge one to take over for Benzema in a few seasons. With Hazard not working out at all, their wing depth may also use a lift.
Excellent Moves
There have been rumours about Gabriel Jesus, but he won’t want to be a backup.Mohamed Salah isn’t leaving Liverpool after this season, although there has been some talk regarding Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling. He’d be an expensive player to sign, but it hasn’t stopped them previously. Alexander Isak of Real Sociedad would make sense for various reasons, and he has a different style than Benzema. Going for Benfica’s Darwin Nunez may have also been a sensible move. However, his future will likely be at Liverpool. Getting Isak and then attempting to entice someone like Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka or another young rising talent may put Los Blancos up nicely in the long run following the disappointment of Mbappe staying in France.
