This is Real Madrid’s plan for the January transfer window

Real Madrid’s damaging defeat to Benfica isn’t expected to trigger major consequences, beyond the frustration and disappointment felt by fans and club executives. 

We’re talking specifically about the possibility of bringing in a new signing before the transfer window closes on Monday. There’s no chance of that happening. The door to any arrivals has remained firmly shut since last August, and it will stay that way until the summer transfer period. Nothing about recent events has altered the club’s long‑established plan: they still believe the current squad has enough quality and depth to compete for the two remaining titles.

“Not our market”

That hasn’t stopped agents from flooding Valdebebas with offers in recent days. Players of every profile and position have been proposed, but neither the poor Champions League result nor the need to go through a playoff to reach the round of 16 - nor the calls from media and fans to reinforce the team - have convinced the club’s leadership to change their stance. They remain confident the squad has both the talent and numbers required to take on the challenges left in the season.

In the past, the message from Valdebebas was that as long as the market was open, the club would remain open to possibilities. This time, the answer is unequivocal: “It’s not our market.” They point out that since Brahim Díaz arrived in January 2019, Madrid hasn’t made a single first‑team signing in the winter window.

It’s true that the club hierarchy didn’t like the performance or the image projected by Álvaro Arbeloa’s team against Benfica. They view it as a step backward and a disappointment. But that doesn’t mean any mechanism has been activated to reinforce the first team. The plan had been to use February as a month to work intensively and gain some breathing room heading into the decisive Champions League rounds. Instead, the reality is that Madrid once again find themselves facing a do‑or‑die scenario in Europe’s top competition.

A busy summer ahead

What does seem clear and already decided is that Madrid is headed for a very active summer in terms of player arrivals and departures. It’s still early to define exact targets, but the main concerns center on the heart of the defense and the holding midfield position. This is the time for analysis before decisions begin taking shape in March.

Arbeloa now has four months to show whether he deserves to continue as Madrid’s head coach. The club’s confidence in him remains intact, and as such, they haven’t made any moves regarding the future of the bench. They believe the project led by the former academy standout can still become a long‑term reality.