Xabi Alonso and his month-long trial to find the idea for his Real Madrid (with an unrealistic squad)

This is possibly the worst possible preseason for a coach who has just arrived at a new team. And, in addition to Real Madrid, That's what Xabi Alonso will have to face in his new role as Real Madrid manager. Taking on the bench at the Santiago Bernabéu is always a complex task , made even more difficult when the timescale for all the players varies... and some may even be rivals in the Club World Cup .

Real Madrid finished the season with the Golden Boot winner in their ranks, following Kylian Mbappé's 31 La Liga goals , for a total of 43 in his first 56 appearances for Real Madrid. But it's clear that his contribution wasn't enough to win any titles, with a defense clearly marked by its weaknesses and a midfield facing doubts due to a lack of structure and order. Therefore, the summer transfer market has provided solutions in both positions.

The problem is that, with a long tournament on the other side of the planet between two seasons , putting all the pieces together won't be an easy task . Firstly, because at the Club World Cup, he'll be counting on a couple of players who, once the tournament is over, will no longer be with the team, such as Lucas Vázquez and Luka Modric ; secondly, because he won't have any leeway with signings like Dean Huijsen and Trent Alexander-Arnold ; and finally, because of the new faces he'll be keeping an eye on .

This is the case of Franco Mastantuono who, despite having signed for Madrid, will play the Club World Cup with River Plate . That is, Xabi Alonso will monitor the Argentine's every move, while he has Jude Bellingham, Arda Güler, Brahim Díaz and Rodrygo in his squad, who could occupy the same position as him. That is, while he trains, gets to know, and refines four players, his big signing will be far from his command, but he'll keep a close eye on him to discover what he can offer.

Something similar is happening with Álvaro Carreras , a player that Madrid is close to signing, but has not yet made it official. He will play in the championship with Benfica, which will allow the Real Madrid manager to see up close how Ferland Mendy and Fran García work on that wing—as well as youth players Yusi and Diego Aguado —and, on television, how the Águilas player does it. Once again, as with Mastantuono, it's a two-speed approach , many miles apart.

It won't be easy to understand what Real Madrid wants from Xabi Alonso with so many elements up in the air , especially with players who are here and will leave, as well as others who will come, but have not yet arrived . And, along the way, there will be some piece of the team that has papers to leave the white entity after the Club World Cup , since Real Madrid still have part of the exit operation pending, where only the departures of the two previously mentioned captains and Jesús Vallejo have been confirmed.

And all this happens at the same time that the competition begins , the first Club World Cup where the squad will seek to be competitive, but He'll have to get to grips with Xabi Alonso's new dynamics . From the change in system to modifications to certain on-field routines and even training methods. Everything is new, and the need to make it all work comes in the middle of the competition and with some players signed to play for another team, which doesn't make the job any easier .

It's almost a month of testing , exactly the length of the competition if they reach the final, which is what Xabi Alonso has to fit his pieces together. It will be especially difficult in attack, where Mbappé, Vinícius and Bellingham seem untouchable , but players like Rodrygo, Brahim, Arda and Mastantuono appear on the horizon, although in the distance, and they have to find their place. Madrid will be looking to become the first Club World Cup champions and, in the meantime, find their new starting eleven .