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Gonzalo's explosion and the blockage on the left side put Xabi Alonso in trouble.

Gonzalo's explosion and the blockage on the left side put Xabi Alonso in trouble.

" We're always open to improving. We always have that idea, and there's room for improvement . We have to be self-critical: our level hasn't been good enough, but it will also tell us things for the future." That's what Xabi Alonso said after Real Madrid were eliminated from the Club World Cup with a crushing defeat to PSG, leaving the door wide open for new signings. But for that to happen, there will have to be departures.

Right now, the Real Madrid squad has been restructured to become competitive again. Jesús Vallejo and Luka Modric have already left the team, while Lucas Vázquez will be the next to leave. Meanwhile, Dean Huijsen, Trent Alexander-Arnold , and Álvaro Carreras , in addition to Franco Mastantuono , who will arrive on August 14, are the new members of the Real Madrid dressing room. With them, the Real Madrid team has 23 registered players , and there are other players who could join.

Photo: Modric and Ceballos, two ways of understanding Real Madrid. (Reuters/Molly Darlington)

The most obvious is Gonzalo García , who has had an impressive Club World Cup. In just a few spells with the first team, he has proven through goals and strong performances that he can be a perfect complement to Madrid's attack. Not only does he score goals, but he's also a player who feels the need to be a champion, spares no effort, is very intelligent when combining —especially with his first touch—and is a finisher like no other Real Madrid has.

Finishing as the top scorer at the Club World Cup thanks to four goals and an assist - which puts him ahead at the top of the table - is enough to earn him a place in the first team . Xabi Alonso is delighted with the youth team player and the player, who arrived in the US as a complementary player, has landed an unexpected leading role that has earned him, on his own merits, a contract and has led Madrid to close their search for a striker.

And, in this case, there would be a gap. Or, to put it another way, there would only be room to sign one more player, so the "margin" Xabi Alonso was talking about is minimized . Last season, the need for a playmaker was already evident, as a creative force to control the team with the ball at their feet is lacking. And given the high number of injuries and the poor season of several players , the addition of another center back , where Ibrahima Konaté is the most prominent, would not be out of the question.

A necessary exit operation

Given what we've seen at the Club World Cup, the team needs reinforcements in key positions immediately . But to do so, it's necessary to begin the exit process. After the departures of Vallejo and Modric, as well as the upcoming departure of Lucas Vázquez, it's time for Madrid to continue cleaning up the locker room . A couple of youth players, such as Rafel Obrador (Benfica) and Víctor Muñoz (Osasuna), have left, and other players in the team will have to follow the same path.

It's logical that players like Reinier, Mario Martín , and Álvaro Rodríguez will leave, but it's also time to make more drastic decisions . The first and most obvious decision is at left back, where Madrid now has four players . With Álvaro Carreras and Fran García as the main proponents of the position, Ferland Mendy's departure seems more obvious than ever . Another option could be David Alaba , but his high salary could complicate the deal.

After his recent statements , letting himself be wanted by Betis, Dani Ceballos could also leave the club . Should he leave, it's clearer than ever that Madrid should go for a central midfielder , a position where they have similar players, but no playmaker . He's the team's most needed addition and, precisely, the one for which there should be exits: not only for a question of salaries, but also financially.

If Madrid wants to find a top-level midfielder, they'll have to dig deep into their pockets . And that's where Rodrygo could come into the equation , a footballer with a very good international reputation. But, be careful, a bigger deal with a clear name wouldn't be out of the question: Vinícius . Everything points to the Brazilian staying at Madrid this season, but it's no less certain that Xabi Alonso will be keeping a close eye on him, after his poor fit with Mbappé has been confirmed .

Photo: Gonzalo and Fran García celebrate the Whites' goals. (Reuters/Hannah McKay)

The Tolosa-born coach knows he's facing the most painful problem a coach can face: having to sell players from his team . It's true that Madrid needs to have a larger squad than last season, as it ended up becoming a problem, especially given that long-term injuries are becoming part of this new and demanding game . But he must adjust the profile of his squad: get rid of players who occupy more than enough positions and incorporate key players.

It's time for the exit process, with several players potentially leaving Real Madrid in the coming weeks. After strengthening, it's time to sell and, above all, to adjust the squad to the coach's needs . And, of course, if Madrid continues to want to sign the playmaker they so desperately need, it's very likely that a key player will have to leave the Santiago Bernabéu . But that's something we'll know in the coming weeks.

El Confidencial

El Confidencial

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