Real Madrid has been extremely busy in the summer transfer window thus far. After a disastrous 24/25 season in which Los Blancos fell short on numerous fronts, Carlo Ancelotti was fired and replaced by former player Xabi Alonso.
The Spanish giants have been working hard to upgrade their team ahead of the Club World Cup, and they’ve already signed Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dean Huijsen, and Franco Mastantuono. They are set to sign Benfica left-back, Álvaro Carreras, in the coming months.
The summer signings have left Alonso with an abundance of riches at his disposal. According to Spanish journalist Manu Carreno, the 43-year-old has already planned his best starting XI for the upcoming season.
Carreno revealed the starting eleven on Cadena SER’s radio sports program El Larguero, saying: “This is the starting eleven Xabi Alonso has in mind right now, not for the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States, but rather for the start of La Liga.”
Goalkeepers and Defenders
Thibaut Courtois, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Eder Militao / Antonio Rudiger, Dean Huijsen, and Alvaro Carreras
Thibaut Courtois is still one of the top goalkeepers in the world, so it’s no surprise that Alonso trusts him to be the man in goal. However, the back four in front of him has seen significant changes.
New signings. Alonso’s best XI includes Trent and Huijsen, as well as Carreras, who has not yet signed but is anticipated to do so soon. Huijsen will be paired in the back with either Eder Militao or Antonio Rudiger.
Alonso also has Dani Carvajal at his disposal, who will fight with Trent for the right-back position once he returns to full fitness following a lengthy injury layoff. The Spaniard will also have access to David Alaba, Ferland Mendy, and Fran García.
Midfielders: Aurelien Tchouameni, Federico Valverde, Jude Bellingham, and Franco Mastantuono.
Aurelien Tchouameni has evolved as one of the top midfielders in the world since joining Real Madrid in 2022, and Alonso wants him to start in midfield with Federico Valverde, who played several games at right-back last season after Dani Carvajal had a season-ending injury.
Unsurprisingly, Alonso’s favored XI includes Jude Bellingham and new signing Mastantuono. Despite being only 17 years old, the Argentine has already played over 60 matches for River Plate and been capped by his country. Despite his youth, the midfielder, who signed a €45 million contract this summer, is expected to start right away.
Eduardo Camavinga, Arda Guler, and Dani Ceballos have not been named to Alonso’s best XI, but they could all play important roles this season.
Forwards: Vinicius Jr., Kylian Mbappe
Kylian Mbappe had a fantastic debut season with Real Madrid, scoring 43 goals and assisting five times in 56 games. He is in Alonso’s top XI alongside Vinicius Jr, who was unable to duplicate his success from 2023/24 previous season but remains one of the best forwards in the world.
Rodrygo is not included in Alonso’s best XI. The 24-year-old, who has been with the club since 2019, has been linked with a lucrative move away this summer. As things stand, Alonso will also have the option of attacking with Brahim Diaz or Endrick.
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