Xabi Alonso must configure Mastantuono puzzle in Real Madrid’s starting XI

Putting all the pieces together so everything works - sounds simple enough, right? But for coaches, especially at Real Madrid, it’s anything but. The challenge isn’t just tactical; it’s political, emotional, and deeply tied to the club’s galaxy of stars.

At Madrid, the stakes are much higher. Several players carry the unspoken label of being “undisputed starters.” The problem is that there are just too many of them. Up front, you’ve got Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius and Jude Bellingham—global icons, each of them expected to start. But they’re not the only ones.

That logjam makes it incredibly tough for anyone else to break into the starting eleven—especially young talents like recent arrival Claudio Echeverri Mastantuono. Just look at what happened with Carlo Ancelotti: he practically sacrificed his tenure trying to make Rodrygo fit alongside Mbappé, Bellingham, and Vinícius. On paper, it was a dream attack packed with firepower. But in reality, it threw the team off balance...

4-3-3 with attacking trident: The system that best suits Mastantuono’s game

Among Europe’s elite clubs, the 4-3-3 formation remains the gold standard. It offers the perfect blend of structure and attacking firepower—especially for teams with a front three that picks itself. Real Madrid knows this formula well. During the era of the legendary BBC trio—Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, and Gareth Bale—the 4-3-3 delivered trophies and highlight reels galore.

But once Bale and Ronaldo left, the system became more fluid, with constant tweaks and experiments. Last season, Ancelotti tried to revive the trident concept with Rodrygo, Mbappé, and Vinicius—a trio bursting with pace and flair. On paper, it looked electric. On the pitch, it exposed a deeper issue: balance.

Swapping Rodrygo for rising Argentine star Mastantuono seems like a straightforward one-for-one move to preserve the 4-3-3. But the underlying problem remains. Jude Bellingham, once a box-to-box midfielder, has evolved into taking on more of an attacking role. That shift makes it harder to maintain midfield stability when three forwards are already pushing high.

Still, the 4-3-3 might be the best fit for Mastantuono’s skill set. At River Plate, he’s shown blistering speed, fearless dribbling, and a knack for breaking down defenses—traits tailor-made for a wide role in a dynamic front three.

4-4-2 with a midfield pivot: would force Mastantuono to work hard in defense

Shifting to a double-pivot midfield could give Real Madrid the defensive stability and balance it’s been craving—but it comes at a cost. To make it work, the team would need to be rejigged into a 4-4-2 formation, a setup that sacrifices one forward for a sturdier spine.

If Xabi Alonso opts to pair Federico Valverde with Aurélien Tchouaméni in the center, it could open the door for Mastantuono to slot in on the right flank. But he wouldn’t walk into that role uncontested. Turkish prodigy Arda Güler is also in the mix, and the battle between the two young talents could become one of the most intriguing storylines of the season.

If Xabi wants a more technically gifted partner alongside Tchouaméni in midfield—someone who can dictate tempo and unlock defenses—he may turn to Dani Ceballos or even Arda Güler, who’s already been tested in that role during the recent Club World Cup. But that choice would trigger a domino effect...

Slotting Güler or Ceballos into central midfield would push Valverde out wide to the right—a role he knows well. In fact, that hybrid position, where Valverde acts as both a winger and a midfielder, was key to Ancelotti’s Champions League triumph. His relentless energy, defensive discipline, and ability to surge forward made him the glue between Madrid’s midfield and attack.

On the left, of course, you’ve got Bellingham—whose attacking instincts are so strong he often feels more like a forward than a midfielder. That makes balance even trickier.

5-3-2 with three central defenders: one of the forwards must be sacrificed

It’s still unclear whether Xabi Alonso will commit to a three-center-back system as the foundation of his Real Madrid project. While in-game tweaks and fluid formations are expected, a back-three setup would dramatically reshape the team’s dynamics—and could limit opportunities for Mastantuono.

The 3-5-2 variant would reduce Mastantuono’s chances of slotting into the starting lineup - unless one of the big names up front is sidelined. With Mbappé and Vinicius locked in as the primary forwards, and Bellingham and especially Valverde operating in midfield (Valverde often occupies the same right-sided space as Mastantuono), the Argentine would need a vacancy to get meaningful minutes.

In this system, wingbacks play a crucial role—and that’s where things get tricky. Trent Alexander-Arnold, expected to bomb forward from the right flank, would naturally occupy the same vertical corridor Mastantuono thrives in. Their styles could clash, with both players looking to drive the attack from similar zones.

To make it work, Madrid would need a midfielder on that side with strong defensive instincts—someone who can cover for Trent’s forward runs and keep the shape intact. Without that kind of support, Mastantuono’s game risks being redundant or tactically exposed.

With little over a fortnight until the opening game of the new season (against Osasuna on 19 August), Xabi has