Real Madrid’s youth revolution: how they could line up in the under-25 era

Thirty-somethings are quickly becoming an endangered species at Real Madrid. The team’s current veterans - Thibaut Courtois, Dani Carvajal, Antonio Rüdiger, David Alaba and Ferland Mendy (who turns 30 on June 8) - are exceptions in a team being aggressively rebuilt for the future. The club isn’t hiding its intentions: this is a full-scale youth movement.

Once Luka Modrić and Lucas Vázquez conclude their illustrious careers with the club after this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup, and with Dean Huijsen (20) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (26) already onboard, the team’s average age will dip significantly - three full years younger than the squad assembled for the 2022–23 season, which averaged 28.2 years. And the goal is to push it even lower, beneath the 25-year threshold.

All under 25. These are players just on the cusp of stardom - young, dynamic, and still affordable. The exception is Wirtz, who’s already a bona fide star with a hefty price tag and strong links to Liverpool. But even in his case, Madrid believes the long-term payoff could justify the investment, especially given his age. For now, he remains just out of reach - but not yet at Anfield.

Helping Güler take the next step is a major reason why Madrid chose not to offer Modrić one more year, despite his hopes of extending his stay. The club sees 2025 as a breakthrough season for the Turkish midfielder. Outgoing manager Carlo Ancelotti hinted as much last month: “I think Arda will become a fantastic central midfielder. He’s going to be very, very important for Real Madrid’s future.”

And it doesn’t stop there. This summer, incoming coach Xabi Alonso will take a close look at several youth players from La Fábrica - names like Jacobo Ramón, Joan Martínez, Diego Aguado and Fortea - as he decides which homegrown talents could play a part in the new era.

It’s a total shift in philosophy, one that Modrić, fittingly, represents as the final chapter of an era. In 2023, Madrid parted ways with veterans Karim Benzema (35), Eden Hazard (32), and Casemiro (31). Ahead of the 2024–25 season, Toni Kroos, Nacho and Joselu - all aged 34 - moved on as well. Next in line: Modrić (39) and Vázquez (33), both expected to exit this summer.

Even the coaching staff reflects this youth movement. While Ancelotti (65) will step down, he’ll be replaced by 43-year-old Xabi Alonso - a fresh face who still looks like he could lace up his boots. Not since Santiago Solari’s brief stint in 2018–19 (he was 42 at the time) has Madrid had such a young manager, and that was a stopgap. This time, it’s part of the long-term plan. Alonso’s appointment has been in the works for months, with the club closely tracking his development at Bayer Leverkusen.

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