Real Madrid are once again standing at a crossroads, a familiar place for a club that measures time in trophies rather than seasons.
Florentino Pérez may already be sketching the future in his mind, imagining a team capable of restoring the aura that once made Europe tremble.
A season drifting off course
The 2025/26 campaign has not unfolded as planned. On January 12, Xabi Alonso and Real Madrid reached a mutual agreement to part ways, only 232 days after his arrival from Bayer Leverkusen.
The decision reflected growing frustration rather than surprise.
Álvaro Arbeloa stepped up from the reserve team to take interim charge, but his first test ended in a painful 3–2 Copa del Rey defeat to Albacete.
His La Liga debut comes against Levante at the Santiago Bernabéu, with Madrid already four points behind Barcelona.
For most clubs, that gap would be manageable. For Real Madrid, a club that has not lifted a major trophy since the 2023/24 season, it feels like stagnation.
The Klopp connection and a looming rebuild
With Alonso gone, speculation has naturally followed. Jürgen Klopp has emerged as a serious candidate, with reports suggesting the role strongly appeals to the former Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund coach.
If Klopp were to arrive, history suggests he would be supported in the transfer market. That opens the door to a tantalizing question: what would Florentino Pérez’s dream XI actually look like?
Goalkeeper and defense: stability with one key addition
Thibaut Courtois remains untouchable. Few goalkeepers in world football can rival his influence, and his place between the posts looks secure.
At right-back, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dani Carvajal cover the position, leaving little room for change. On the left, Álvaro Carreras is expected to retain his role after arriving from Benfica.
The biggest defensive question lies at center-back. With Antonio Rüdiger’s contract expiring in 2026 and Éder Militão’s injury struggles, Madrid may look to reinforce.
Marc Guéhi, set to leave Crystal Palace this summer, fits the profile: experienced, composed, and available at a reasonable cost.
Competition from Manchester City and Bayern Munich complicates matters, but the interest is real.
Midfield: depth, power, and one missing piece
Real Madrid’s midfield is already rich with talent. Jude Bellingham, Federico Valverde, Eduardo Camavinga, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Arda Güler, and Dani Ceballos provide balance, energy, and creativity.
Yet there is still space for a true controlling presence. Fabian Ruiz has emerged as a priority target.
Fresh off a Euro 2024 triumph with Spain and a treble-winning season at PSG, Ruiz would bring calm authority and tactical intelligence to an already formidable engine room.
Attack: questions, departures, and star power
Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo remain central figures, though their long-term futures are not entirely clear. If one were to leave, it could open the door for Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise.
Since joining Bayern in 2024, Olise has delivered consistently, combining goals and assists with elegance and efficiency.
At just 25, he represents both immediate impact and long-term value, though his price tag would likely exceed £100 million.
The ultimate dream: Haaland in white
Every dream XI needs a headline act, and for Florentino Pérez, that name remains Erling Haaland. Despite his long-term contract with Manchester City, Real Madrid continue to monitor the situation closely.
Signing Haaland would likely require a world-record fee, eclipsing even Neymar’s historic move in 2017. But when Madrid call, football history suggests few players resist.
A dream, not a promise
There is no guarantee that all, or even any, of these signings materialize. Football rarely follows scripts, even in Madrid.
Yet one thing feels inevitable: Real Madrid will invest, recalibrate, and chase the future with ambition.
Because at this club, rebuilding is never quiet, and dreaming is part of the job description.
