New era begins – Alonso & new Real Madrid signings target Club World Cup glory | OneFootball

After a season of unfulfilled expectations and broken dreams, Real Madrid head to the United States for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup under new management.

Carlo Ancelotti has waved goodbye to the Santiago Bernabeu, and ex-Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso has returned to the club in a different capacity to pick up the slack.

Defensive leaks plagued Los Blancos in 2024/25, leading to a rare trophyless season, but the arrivals of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen should repair the flawed system.

Keen to be ‘part of this club’s success,’ Arnold finds himself on Alonso’s 28-man squad alongside Huijsen and Madrid legend Luka Modric, who is set for his last tournament in the iconic white shirt.

Players like Modric are a dying species, yet Los Merengues may have already found a worthy successor.

River Plate wonderkid Franco Mastantuono will complete his mega-money transfer to the Spanish capital after the Club World Cup. But he will play for the Buenos Aires outfit in the United States.

Much-required additions

Dani Carvajal has been an omnipresent figure in Madrid during the club’s trophy-laden era and remains one of the most decorated right-backs in world football.

However, the Spaniard is past his prime, while his recurring fitness issues often forced Ancelotti to experiment at right-back last term, resulting in a lack of stability on the flank.

Alexander-Arnold’s arrival should spare Alonso such troubles.

Fresh off lifting his second Premier League title with Liverpool, the 26-year-old comes with the pedigree of a serial winner, boasting the fitting mindset for a club of Madrid’s stature.

He should be an upgrade on Carvajal in an attacking sense, but whether he can avoid his frequent defensive lapses is open for debate.

As for Huijsen, he enjoyed a stellar breakthrough season at Bournemouth and joins the record-time Club World Cup winners as a potential long-term successor to Sergio Ramos.

However, Madrid is a different kind of challenge. The pressure is simply unbearable for most professionals.

That comes with the job and a substantial €59.5 million transfer fee, underscoring the enormous expectations Huijsen must meet.

Perhaps this tournament will provide insight into what Alonso can expect from the ex-Juventus defender.

How will Real Madrid line up at the Club World Cup?

With Alonso at the steering wheel, changes look inevitable.

The former midfielder based his vast success at Leverkusen on a three-man backline, and he has no reason to ditch the winning formula.

Changes of this magnitude take time, but the Club World Cup could be an ideal opportunity to put the new formation to the test.

Barring occasional slip-ups, Thibaut Courtois was among Madrid’s most consistent performers during Ancelotti’s last season in charge.

The Belgium stalwart should remain the first choice in goal, even though Andriy Lunin proved a reliable back-up.

Huijsen will likely slot alongside Antonio Rudiger and Eder Militao in Madrid’s new-look defence.

Alonso’s set-up suits Arnold’s characteristics, so there’s no doubt he’ll start on the right wing.

Fran Garcia was Ancelotti’s first option at left-back. Given his speed and attacking knack, Ferland Mendy should remain second fiddle.

While Modric will wear the captain’s armband whenever on the pitch, Federico Valverde and Eduardo Camavinga should get the nod in the engine room.

One thing Ancelotti couldn’t figure out was the chemistry between Madrid’s star-studded attacking trio.

Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham all boast exceptional talent, yet forging a cohesive partnership proved a tall order for Alonso’s predecessor.

Finding a way to make this trio of phenoms co-exist could unlock Madrid’s full attacking potential and define the Spaniard’s tenure at the Bernabeu.

Real Madrid (3-4-2-1): Courtois; Huijsen, Rudiger, Militao; Arnold, Valverde, Camavinga, Fran Garcia; Vinicius Junior, Bellingham; Mbappe.