There will be a lot of eyes on Real Madrid and Xabi Alonso next season, and for very good reason
The Spanish giants are coming off the back of a 2024/25 campaign where they could have achieved more, but they didn’t. Under Carlo Ancelotti, Los Blancos failed in the UEFA Champions League as they were knocked out by Arsenal. They also lost the La Liga and Copa del Rey titles to Barcelona.
The 2025-26 season is expected to be better, even in terms of Real Madrid tickets.
Ancelotti was eventually shown the exit door, as former player Alonso returns to the dugout as a manager. The Spaniard did amazing things at Bayer Leverkusen where expectations were modest, while at Madrid, it is more serious, and they are huge. So, going into the 2025-26 season, Real Madrid and Alonso are under a huge spotlight.
Real Madrid’s expectations never change. They are always expected to win. Win La Liga, win the Champions League, win every competition they enter. That is simply the standard of the club. Alonso, having played at the club in the past, should be aware of the demands without any doubt.
Apart from Ancelotti who has left the club, veteran skipper Luka Modric also leaves. The Croatian has been a loyal servant at the club in the past decade. His departure leaves a huge gap in the Real Madrid midfield because of the qualities he possesses. The likes of Federico Valverde and Jude Bellingham might have more energy and athleticism than Modric, but they do not exert the same level of control, calmness and influence in that central midfield role. Another player they still miss is Toni Kroos. Since the world cup winner’s retirement, Real Madrid have barely controlled games.
The current midfield options and defence could be their biggest problems in the coming season if they are left unattended to, but they seem solid in the attack. However, Alonso is expected to find a structure to accommodate all the stars in the squad. Don Carlo tried his best with how he utilised them last season, but things could be better and Alonso will be expected to find a lasting solution. It’s a squad bursting with youth, pace, and creativity — and the task for the coaching staff is to balance all those personalities and styles of play into one fluid, dominant team.
Alonso was asked about how Madrid will play at his unveiling as new Real Madrid boss, and he said; “It’s a good question and I like it because today, football asks you to be flexible and dynamic. It asks you to know how to move pieces. I have an idea of how we want to play, but the snapshot of the system can change. I want the team to transmit emotion, energy, play in an ambitious way and connect with the people. The symbiosis we are looking for is fundamental for the stage to start well. I like to improve the potential of each one to fit the pieces.”
The midfield is youthful and hungry, with a bit of experience. So the expectation is not only to dominate games but to do so in style — with fast-paced passing, positional fluidity, and complete control. Eduardo Camavinga, Aurelien Tchouaméni, and Federico Valverde offer a lot of steel, but they need a controller regardless. Apart from solving that conundrum, there is also the question of how Jude Bellingham’s advanced midfield role will evolve. He had an outstanding season playing just behind the striker, scoring goals and running the show with maturity beyond his years. A change in structure could see the Englishman take a more central role than close to the opposition’s box.
When asked about the role Bellingham will play under him, Alonso had this to say at his unveiling; “Jude can be special anywhere. He was at Dortmund when I arrived and he has had a breakthrough in the last two years to make a mark. He is going to be fundamental for the next projects of this club. I see him clearly as a midfielder and with all that potential he has we are going to try to make him as efficient as possible, that is one of the steps we have to take.”
Defensively, Real Madrid have an aging plus injury hit setup.
Antonio Rüdiger had an immense campaign last term before his injury, Eder Militão is returning from a long-term injury, and the young Fran García and Ferland Mendy offer different profiles at left-back. At right back, they lost Dani Carvajal to a season-ending injury, but they have brought in Trent Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool. In goal, Andriy Lunin and Thibaut Courtois are solid covers.
The coming season also brings questions about youth development. It is one area Carlo Ancelotti failed during his tenure at the club. He barely gave enough playing time to the core of the young players in the team, and many would expect a different under Alonso. Young striker Gonzalo García was given a start at the FIFA Club World Cup game against Al Hilal, and he went on to score the first goal of Alonso’s reign. Similarly, Arda Güler, also impressed in the second half of that game. That’s an area where Alonso has shown promise — at Leverkusen, he trusted young players and gave them freedom to express themselves. Madrid fans hope he can do the same.
Alonso looks more tactically sound than Ancelotti. So, it will be expected that Real Madrid have a bit of structure, when defending or attacking. They barely had both under Ancelotti’s reign. Alonso’s reputation also brings pressure. He’s admired not just for results, but for how his teams play. That means he is expected to hit the ground running immediately. At Madrid, he is expected to win every week, in every competition, with no excuses. That is a huge challenge, even for the most experienced of coaches.
In summary, Real Madrid enter next season with a clear demand: win everything, but do it with style and authority. They are building a new attacking force with Mbappé, a midfield capable of dictating any game, and a defense built for war. Alonso is the new man at the helm, and He is seen as the one who could take Madrid into a new era — an era not just of trophies, but of identity, clarity, and dominance.