LALIGA
Will Real Madrid sign any more players before the 2023/24 season starts?
Jude Bellingham has been Los Blancos’ marquee summer signing, with Fran García, Brahim Díaz and Joselu also arriving at the Bernabéu.
Unless something drastic happens, the signing of Joselu from Espanyol will be Real Madrid’s last ahead of the start of the 2023/24 season. Los Blancos aren’t willing to push the boat out when it comes to recruitment this summer, believing that it will be difficult for them to improve their roster with considerably overspending.
That means that Fran García, Brahim Díaz, Jude Bellingham and Joselu are expected to be the only new arrivals. Manager Carlo Ancelotti is planning to switch between 4-4-2 and 4-3-3 systems, with Vinicius taking up his usual place on the left, Rodrygo playing as a false nine and Joselu starting many games in attack, especially at the new and improved Estadio Santiago Bernabéu.
Real Madrid return to ‘Galáctico’ transfer policy
With Madrid having already splashed the cash to bring in Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund, it seems that one ‘Galáctico’ signing this summer is enough, just like in the old days. The only scenario in which their stance could change is if results and form in pre-season suggest they urgently need more firepower in attack.
As a result, the number 9 shirt, previously worn by the departed Karim Benzema, remains vacant. But neither Harry Kane nor anyone else will be claiming it in this particular window, unless a top-level striker becomes available for a reasonable price, which seems highly unlikely.
Madrid target Mbappé...on two conditions
President Florentino Pérez will instead wait until next summer to make another big splash in the transfer market. Of course, Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappé will be the main target, on two conditions: he must be available on a free transfer (which looks set to be the case) with no signing-on fee, and he has to publicly state his desire to sign for Real Madrid.
Florentino Pérez’s legacy
Ensuring that the club remain in sound financial health is one of Pérez’s main objectives, along with leaving behind a redeveloped stadium and a young, competitive roster as part of his legacy when he eventually steps down. The ‘new’ Bernabéu is expected to be completed by September, while the arrivals of Bellingham and potentially Mbappé would go a long way to setting Los Merengues up for long-term success.
Luka Modric and Toni Kroos’ roles
Luka Modric and Toni Kroos, despite their advancing years, are still expected to get plenty of game time in 2023/24 due to the fact that Madrid will looking to win three competitions (LaLiga, Champions League, Copa del Rey). Both could feature in slightly different positions, with the Croat playing slightly deeper to allow Bellingham to play a more roving midfield role.
However, Ancelotti is well aware of the need to freshen up his team and will look to give academy players a chance to impress when the opportunity arises. Álvaro Rodríguez, Nico Paz, Sergio Arribas and Rafa Marín are among those expected to be involved with the first team.
Pre-season could decide transfer tweaks
Everything else is speculation and we’ll have to wait until pre-season to see if Real Madrid feel the need to tweak their strategy in any way, with goalscoring options the primary concern. If Ancelotti is happy with his lot, then the attention will turn to 2024.
Signing Mbappé is the dream, although Los Blancos are also following a number of other young players closely (who could be emergency signing targets if needed) as they search for long-term options at right-back and in midfield.
As for Galácticos, however, it will be one per year. Just the way Pérez has always liked it.