Hello all, welcome back. Real Madrid are going through a bit of a rough patch right now, and even though they’re my club’s biggest rivals, I am here today to make you a game plan to fix them.
My plan, at first, will undoubtedly sound insane, like I’m a Barcelona agent wanting to get into Real Madrid and take them down from the inside. However, I promise this is the way to get Real Madrid back to the top.
In this post I’ll be talking about what big decisions I’d make on the Real Madrid squad, the incomings and outgoings, contract decisions, managerial decisions, and more. It’ll be pretty self-explanatory once I get into it, so let’s go!
Current Real Madrid depth chart for 2026/27
Coaching Depth
Alvaro Arbeloa (Interim Contract)
Ricardo Da Silva (Assistant)
Julian Carmona (Assistant)
Julian Lopez de Lerma (Castilla Coach)
GK Depth
Thibault Courtois
Andriy Lunin
Fran Gonzalez (Expiring) (Castilla)
RB Depth
Trent Alexander-Arnold
Dani Carvajal (Expiring)
David Jimenez (Castilla)
Jesus Fortea (Castilla)
LB Depth
Alvaro Carreras
Ferland Mendy
Fran Garcia
CB Depth
Dean Huijsen
Eder Militao
Antonio Rudiger (Expiring)
Raul Asencio
David Alaba (Expiring)
Victor Valdepenas (Castilla)
Joan Martinez (Castilla)
Diego Aguado (Castilla)
CM/CDM Depth
Fede Valverde
Aurelien Tchouameni
Eduardo Camavinga
Dani Ceballos
Mario Martin (Back from Loan)
Jorge Cestero (Castilla)
Thiago Pitarch (Castilla)
AM Depth
Jude Bellingham
Arda Guler
Cesar Palacios (Castilla)
RW Depth
Rodrygo
Brahim Diaz
Franco Mastantuono
ST Depth
Kylian Mbappe
Endrick (Back from Loan)
Gonzalo Garcia
LW Depth
Vinicius Jr.
First and Foremost, we must make a decision on expiring contracts for Madrid, in both 2026 and 2027.
Extend:
Thibault Courtois (2027)
Fran Gonzalez (2026)
Don’t Extend:
Vini Jr. (2027)
Antonio Rudiger (2026)
Dani Carvajal (2026)
Fran Garcia (2027)
Dani Ceballos (2027)
David Alaba (2026)
Brahim Diaz (2027)
The no-brainer here is the extension of elite shot-stopper Thibault Courtois. Despite a new contract likely leading the Belgian into his late 30s, there hasn’t been anyone better for Madrid right now. My recommendation? A new contract until 2029, just after Courtois’ 37th birthday, and a re-evaluation when we get there. By then, it will have been 11 years since the stopper joined Los Blancos, and regardless, he will leave the club a legend. Third-choice Fran Gonzalez should also be extended in my opinion, as he’s pretty decent as far as third choices go.
Everyone else should be let go, in my opinion. There’s a reason Madrid haven’t given them extensions yet, and a lot of them are just deadwood that needs replacing. David Alaba has outstayed his welcome by about three years, Fran Garcia is generally disappointing whenever I see him play, Ceballos is a rotation piece and a mystery to me on how he’s approaching a decade at the club, and Rudiger and Carvajal are too injury-prone these days to be a part of the defensive rotation.
The real surprise here is my decision not to extend Vini’s contract. This is part of the identity shift I want at Real Madrid. My analysis of Vini is that he’s a bad apple in the Madrid bunch. He’s a great player on his day, don’t get me wrong, but he’s not the kind of player I’d want as the Madrid coach. His frequent outbursts at everyone from referees to managers to cameras show it all.
Honestly, while it’s been great, the Vini-Madrid relationship needs to end. Madrid need to go in another direction from their problematic star, and Vini needs a mental health break from La Liga. The relentless boos in every away game, especially at the Metropolitano and Mestalla, the frequent racial abuse from some idiotic opposition fans, and the utterly incompetent refereeing. I don’t see it working for much longer, and that’s why Vini needs to leave this summer.
Brahim Diaz also needs some time away from the limelight, in my opinion. He needs to be the star at a smaller club and rebuild his confidence after his soul-crushing AFCON penalty.
So far, my departures list looks like this:
Antonio Rudiger (Free)
David Alaba (Free)
Dani Carvajal (Free)
Vini Jr (100m)
Brahim Diaz (20m)
Fran Garcia (5m)
Dani Ceballos (5m)
However, these aren’t the only departures I think Madrid should make. Here are the rest of the names who need to go.
Rodrygo
After almost leaving this summer, it hasn’t got much better for Rodrygo at Real Madrid. After going over 30 games without a goal in all comps, Rodrygo finally scored against Man City in December, but still has only netted three this campaign.
While his value has tanked this season, I don’t see the situation at the Bernabeu getting any better. I see a move away for about 50 million being about enough.
Ferland Mendy
If they can even sell him, they should. Mendy hasn’t been it for Madrid since about 2021, and it shocks me how he netted a THREE-YEAR extension at the club last summer. Sell, for whatever you can, as soon as you can.
Aurelien Tchouameni
A potentially surprising one, this sale isn’t necessary, but he just doesn’t impress me when I see him. He’s some good center back depth, but if an offer over 55 million comes in this summer, I’d let him go.
Kylian Mbappe (Potentially)
Yes, I’m saying Madrid should sell Kylian Mbappe. However, if you saw my Real Madrid: Endless Misery post, you’d know exactly why. I don’t believe Madrid will ever win the Champions League as long as Mbappe is at the club. Sell, sell, sell. This is the biggest part of my culture change at Madrid, in my attempt to make these guys a functioning team again.
Alvaro Arbeloa
The final departure, let’s be honest, Arbeloa isn’t in it for the long run. From the press conferences where he just denies reality to starting a Castilla player at right back with Trent and Carvajal on the bench, Arbeloa isn’t the level of manager for the job. It was obvious Madrid only hired him after letting go of Xabi because Zidane was holding out for the France job. Only here on an interim basis, Florentino Perez will be in the manager market the second Madrid is eliminated from the Champions League.
With our departures sorted, who should come in to replace these stars? Here is my action plan.
New Manager Options:
Jurgen Klopp
Zinedine Zidane
Enzo Maresca
Roberto di Zerbi
These aren’t bad options at all to choose from, and while Klopp certainly would be first choice at the Bernabeu, he seems quite content in his role at Red Bull for the moment. Zinedine Zidane, if reports are true, is also to be taking charge of the France national team after this summer’s World Cup, and will likely be off the table for Madrid until at least after the 2028 Euros.
That leaves, in my opinion, the best man for the role, Enzo Maresca. A no-nonsense manager who is tactically sound and unafraid to speak up, Pep’s La Masia influence will have made its poetic way all the way to the rival, Real Madrid. While Roberto di Zerbi is also a great manager, Maresca should be the man for the role.
With that, let’s start with the players who will be brought in. A big theme that you’ll see with many of my additions is a Spanish revolution at the club. Of the current established first team players at Madrid, just 7 of 25 are Spanish, one of the lowest tallies of any club in La Liga, and just five came up through La Fabrica. Compare that with rivals Barcelona, who have 13 of their 24 first teamers hail from Spain, and have 12 La Masia alumni. Half of the first team of one of the best teams in Europe and the best team in Spain come from their own academy, something Madrid could only dream to replicate.
The discrepancies get worse when you look at actual playing time of those talents. Madrid’s Spanish talents have played just 20% of the club’s total minutes played, with La Fabrica talent accounting for just 13% of all minutes played. Compare it to Barcelona. Spanish players play a staggering 64% of available minutes, and La Masia talents playing 45% of minutes.
The difference is stark, and we’re going to change that. While not all of my signings will be from La Fabrica, the Fabrica core will be plain for all to see and will be a fantastic kickstart in Madrid’s identity shift from the years of Galactico signings.
Signings
Adam Wharton – 80m
Age: 22
Position: DM
Club: Crystal Palace
Transfermarkt: 60m
Starting from the most expensive signings to the least, I see Wharton being Madrid’s most expensive signing, but an actually feasible midfield option as opposed to Vitinha. A midfield metronome at just 22, Wharton could be around for a long time, and is one of the best players to come out of the Crystal Palace talent factory in recent years. He could be the next Casemiro for Madrid.
Yan Diomande – 70m
Age: 19
Position: LW
Club: RB Leipzig
Transfermarkt: 45m
A great Vini replacement, it would’ve been Kenan Yildiz here but as the Turk has committed his long-term future to Juventus, the search brings us to the Ivorian. Diomande is a speedy and explosive winger with 7 goals and 5 assists in the Bundesliga this season. Combined with a signing we’ll see later on, Diomande should fit very well in this Madrid team.
Eli Kroupi – 65m
Age: 19
Position: ST
Club: Bournemouth
Transfermarkt: 22m
A kind of Mbappe replacement, Kroupi has been lighting it up at Bournemouth this year. Eight Premier League goals in just 845 minutes, Kroupi would be a great signing for Madrid. Likely he’d rotate with a returning Endrick and Gonzalo Garcia, but I see some great competition for the role that should produce at least one star striker for the future. Kroupi can also play on the left, providing some versatility.
Chema Andres – 13.5m
Age: 20
Position: DM
Club: Stuttgart
Transfermarkt: 15m
More midfield depth, Real Madrid can take back control of Chema’s development and bring him back to the club. Our first Fabrica product brought back, Chema is a very solid midfielder who’s been applying his trade in Germany this year. Bringing him back to Madrid seems a very good move for midfield depth.
Nico Paz – 9m
Age: 21
Position: AM
Club: Como
Transfermarkt: 65m
The crown jewel of the Fabrica additions, Nico Paz has 9 goals and 6 assists for Como this season and looks all the bright talent he was touted as during his time in the Madrid youth system. His transfer back to Madrid is all set, and is a great example of an academy beast. Madrid has a bargain 9 million buy back clause this summer, so much less than anyone else would have to pay for him.
Jacobo Ramon – 7m
Age: 21
Position: CB
Club: Como
Transfermarkt: 18m
A bit of defensive depth, Jacobo Ramon has been a beast in Serie A this season. Ramon has played 20 matches and scored twice from center back. He has that Sergio Ramos archetype in that he finds himself in great attacking positions incredibly frequently for a center back. He is a great ball-playing center back, and while he shouldn’t be played together with Huijsen, would be great with a physical centerback partner like Militao or another player we’re talking about later. Like Chema and Paz, Ramon has a bargain buy back clause next summer for just 7 million.
Victor Munoz – 7m
Age: 22
Position: LW
Club: Osasuna
Transfermarkt: 10m
The backup LW depth behind Diomande, most fans’ lasting impression of Victor Munoz is missing a massive chance in El Clásico at the Montjuic last May that could’ve made it 4-4. However, Munoz is a perfect example of a winger who is just a nightmare for La Liga defences. Lightning-quick and with great skill, Munoz is able to take the ball from midfield to the final third in a dangerous area in seconds, a priceless skill. Munoz also has just a 7 million euro buyback clause, another bargain for some great talent.
Yusi – 6m
Age: 20
Position: LB
Club: Alaves
Transfermarkt: 5m
The final Fabrica signing, Yusi would be some good left back depth behind Alvaro Carreras. While the position will have to left thin here, the double Fabrica option for the position is very promising. Yusi also has a buyback option, but we don’t know how much it is, so I’ll say 6 million as a reasonable guess. Eduardo Camavinga is also an option for this position if injuries get in the way.
Ibrahima Konate – Free
Age: 26
Position: CB
Club: Liverpool
Transfermarkt: 50m
While Madrid have declared that they’ve lost interest in Ibrahima Konate, the market for top tier centerbacks is thinning, with Upamecano staying at Bayern, and Guehi joining City. Konate may be all that’s left for Madrid as a cheap signing after the big money signings of Wharton, Diomande, and Kroupi. Konate is still a great center back talent, and I tip him to do some great things at the club.
With all of my changes made, here is my fixed Real Madrid depth chart.
Coaches:
Enzo Maresca (Manager)
Willy Caballero (Assistant)
Alvaro Arbeloa (Castilla)
GK:
Thibault Courtois
Andriy Lunin
Fran Gonzalez
RB:
Trent Alexander-Arnold
Dani Jimenez
Jesus Fortea
CB:
Dean Huijsen
Ibrahima Konate
Eder Militao
Raul Asencio
Jacobo Ramon
Victor Valdepenas
Joan Martinez
LB:
Alvaro Carreras
Yusi
CM/DM
Fede Valverde
Adam Wharton
Eduardo Camavinga
Mario Martin
Chema Andres
Jorge Cestero
Thiago Pitarch
AM:
Jude Bellingham
Nico Paz
RW:
Arda Guler
Franco Mastantuono
ST:
Endrick
Eli Kroupi
Gonzalo Garcia
LW:
Yan Diomande
Victor Munoz
In my opinion, not only will we see success from this team, but we’ll also see an environment where Madrid won’t have to make any signings for a good while. This core isn’t just a good core for now, but for the next decade.
How would you fix Real Madrid? Let me know. For now, I’m Jim James, until next time.
