Real Madrid will not make any new signings in the upcoming winter transfer window, despite the clear decline in performance and the impact of injuries and absences on Xabi Alonso’s squad in the last two months.
The Athletic reported that Florentino Pérez’s administration believes the current squad is capable enough to compete for all titles. They also see the club’s academy as a valuable resource for emergencies, even though Alonso prefers to rely on established players and doesn’t give youngsters many opportunities.
Historically, Real Madrid tends to be inactive in the winter market. Pérez’s long-held view is that good options never appear in January, and if they do, their prices are inflated. Therefore, he prefers to wait until the summer transfer window before making any new signings.
Meanwhile, Alonso’s future as Real Madrid coach remains uncertain. According to recent reports, the Merengues’ management is giving him one last chance to save his job through the Spanish Super Cup, which is scheduled to be held in Saudi Arabia. Losing the Super Cup to Atlético Madrid or in the final (against Barcelona or Athletic Bilbao) would practically mean the end of Xabi Alonso’s tenure at the Santiago Bernabéu. The club’s management has already settled on his successor: Castilla coach Álvaro Arbeloa.
Alonso will have to demonstrate a significant improvement in performance during the Super Cup and against top teams, especially since Real Madrid, under his leadership, haven’t won any major derbies this season except for El Clásico. Winning the title without playing well would also put the Basque coach’s future in jeopardy. There needs to be a real improvement in the team’s performance and a move away from relying solely on the individual brilliance of Kylian Mbappé.
It’s worth noting that Real Madrid currently sits second in La Liga, four points behind leaders Barcelona, and has 12 points out of a possible 18 in the Champions League. They still have a strong chance of qualifying directly for the Round of 16 by finishing in the top eight in the league.
