Mansion Sports - Real Madrid is reportedly exploring strategic options to reinforce its midfield ahead of the 2025–2026 campaign. 

New head coach Xabi Alonso has pinpointed a critical need for a tempo-controlling midfielder and is believed to have already identified a key candidate from the Premier League as a top priority.

Club World Cup Exposes Structural Weaknesses in Real Madrid’s Squad

Real Madrid’s opening six matches under Alonso’s management during the FIFA Club World Cup highlighted several structural shortcomings that continue to affect the La Liga runners-up.

While defensive fragility was apparent—evidenced by only two clean sheets throughout their campaign in the United States—the absence of a midfield orchestrator proved to be a glaring issue.

The back-to-back departures of club legends Toni Kroos and Luka Modrić have left a significant void in the heart of Real Madrid’s playmaking system. 

Now, Alonso faces the pressing task of identifying a player capable of taking the reins and dictating the tempo of the game from midfield.

The Search for a Midfield Conductor Begins

According to a report from ESPN, Alonso is actively seeking a midfielder who can do more than simply dictate tempo—he must also contribute defensively and serve as a pivotal link in transitioning from defense to attack. 

In essence, Real Madrid is searching for a player who mirrors Alonso’s own qualities during his illustrious playing career.

One player previously linked with the Spanish giants was Angelo Stiller from VfB Stuttgart. However, the club has reportedly removed Stiller from their shortlist for the time being.

Meanwhile, interest in Manchester City’s Rodri persists, though a deal appears highly improbable given Rodri’s status as one of the world’s premier midfielders and a recent Ballon d’Or recipient.

Internal Experimentation with Arda Güler

With few realistic external options available in the current transfer market, Alonso may be forced to innovate from within. During the Club World Cup, he experimented by deploying 20-year-old Arda Güler in a central midfield role—an unorthodox position for a player typically used as a right-sided attacker or No. 10.

Güler showed flashes of promise in the new role during the early rounds of the tournament. However, he struggled in the semifinal against a formidable Paris Saint-Germain midfield trio of João Neves, Vitinha, and Fabián Ruiz.

Despite his technical prowess, Güler requires more time and experience to evolve into a true midfield orchestrator capable of thriving at the highest levels of European football.

Tchouaméni and Camavinga Not Ideal Fits

French midfielders Aurélien Tchouaméni and Eduardo Camavinga remain important figures in the squad, yet both are primarily known for their defensive capabilities. 

Neither has fully demonstrated the vision, control, and tempo-setting abilities required of a midfield leader.

Their playing styles lean more toward ball-winning and disruption rather than orchestrating the flow of play. As such, they are not viewed as ideal replacements for the roles once occupied by Kroos and Modrić.

Alonso’s Challenge: Reconstructing a Legendary Midfield Trio

Should Real Madrid fail to secure a new midfield maestro in line with Alonso’s vision, the manager will be tasked with the formidable challenge of reinventing the team’s midfield to approximate the legendary trio of Kroos, Casemiro, and Modrić—who were instrumental in the club’s Champions League dominance during the past decade.

Xabi Alonso will need to be both resourceful and creative, not only in optimizing the talents currently at his disposal but also in crafting a new tactical identity for Real Madrid’s midfield in the post-Galáctico era.