Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid chapter begins: here’s how things look

No more downtime. The 24-day vacation the squad enjoyed after the World Cup is officially over. It’s a fresh start for Xabi Alonso’s team, who now has a full squad of 25 players—if we include Mastantuono, whose signing becomes official on August 14 when he turns 18, and Gonzalo, who is still negotiating a professional contract with Madrid but begins preseason training today with the rest of the team at Valdebebas.

This will be a lightning-fast preseason—just over two weeks, specifically 15 days—from now until August 19, when Madrid hosts Osasuna at the Bernabéu to kick off the new La Liga season. The hoped-for postponement didn’t happen. After that, two more league matches follow, against Oviedo (August 24) and Real Sociedad (August 30), before the first international break. As far as preparation goes, there’s just one friendly scheduled: a match against WSG Tirol on August 12 in Innsbruck.

“I’m leaving with key certainties,” said Xabi Alonso in the press conference following the Club World Cup loss to PSG. “With a composition that reflects exactly where we are. We’re leaving here a better team.” The Tolosa native has had time to reflect on what the squad needs and what must be worked on. The group is the same as it was during the Club World Cup—except now Mastantuono is officially involved, even though he wasn’t available back then.

While in the U.S., Xabi offered an early diagnosis: “The idea is that all eleven of us are committed—with and without the ball. That the team is truly a team.” From today, the real work begins. This morning will be dedicated to weigh-ins, medical tests, and the initial outlines of the physical prep plan.

The squad has been significantly reinforced at the back with Huijsen, Trent, and Carreras, along with the return of Militao. The midfield remains unchanged, while the competition up front has intensified with the addition of Mastantuono. These are the new pieces in a squad that also now includes Gonzalo—and from which Vallejo, Modric, and Lucas Vázquez have departed. The result is a much younger team, with an average age of just 25.2 years. Only five players—Courtois, Alaba, Rüdiger, Carvajal, and Mendy—are 30 or older. In contrast, nine players are 22 or younger: Gonzalo, Endrick, Mastantuono, Bellingham, Camavinga, Güler, Carreras, Huijsen, and Asencio.

It’s undeniably a squad built for the future. The attacking line is particularly promising: Mastantuono, Brahim, Mbappé, Gonzalo, Endrick (who has made it clear he doesn’t want to leave), Vinicius, and Rodrygo—all with an average age of just 22.5 years.

Real Madrid’s unlikely departures

Beyond the four (or five, including Gonzalo) new arrivals, a few sensitive exit scenarios remain unresolved. Transfers seem unlikely—because no one wants to leave Madrid—but speculation continues around Alaba and Mendy, as well as Rodrygo, whom Xabi Alonso seemed to sideline at the Club World Cup.

Still, the Brazilian has no intention of leaving. Xabi has a pending conversation with him—as well as with Ceballos, who is unhappy with his role in the squad, especially after Mastantuono’s arrival.

Don’t expect many more changes in the transfer window. These are the 25 players Xabi Alonso begins with, and they are the ones he’ll rely on in pursuit of four titles: the Champions League, La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Super Cup—after what was, by all accounts, a disappointing campaign last season.