Real Madrid News
Real Madrid facing major crisis at key position ahead of Jose Mourinho era
Real Madrid may have strengthened their options at left-back over the last year, but the situation has developed into one of the club’s biggest concerns heading into next season.
With the expected arrival of Jose Mourinho, Real Madrid are preparing for major changes across the squad.
However, one area that remains far from solved is the left side of the defence, where uncertainty, injuries, and inconsistent performances are creating a complicated scenario.
The club currently finds itself with three recognised left-backs competing for one place, namely Alvaro Carreras, Fran Garcia, and Ferland Mendy.
On paper, the depth appears strong. In reality, though, each player arrives with major doubts surrounding his future and long-term role inside the squad.
Struggling to solve left-back uncertainty
When fully fit, there is little debate about who remains the most reliable option, as Mendy has consistently shown he is still the strongest defensive left-back available to the club.
The problem, however, for Real Madrid is availability. The French defender has once again endured a frustrating season filled with physical setbacks.
Injuries restricted him to only nine appearances across all competitions, with just 453 total minutes played during the campaign.
At one stage, Mendy’s future at the club looked increasingly uncertain. However, a fresh injury that is expected to sideline him for between four and five months has complicated any possibility of an exit this summer.
Meanwhile, Fran Garcia started the season lower in the pecking order. Yet injuries and inconsistent displays from others eventually opened the door for him to receive important opportunities.
He ended up starting 14 matches and generally performed reliably when called upon.
Despite that, Real Madrid still view him more as a squad player rather than a long-term elite starter.
Pinning hopes on Carreras
Perhaps the most worrying situation surrounds Alvaro Carreras, as Real Madrid invested €50 million with the belief that he could become the club’s long-term solution at left-back.
Instead, the 23-year-old struggled to establish himself consistently.
In fact, both Mendy and Fran Garcia managed to move ahead of him in the rotation at different stages of the season, creating growing concern around his development.
Right now, the club is not considering selling Carreras, but they are indeed looking to add a new player in that position.
One of the main objectives for Real Madrid this summer was to bring in a new central midfielder capable of controlling the tempo and dictating the play from the middle.
A move for Rodri was in the works before the Spain captain decided to sign for FC Barcelona. The Merengues assessed several other options, but ended up not signing any player, with Jose Mourinho deciding to use Bernardo Silva in the double pivot.
One of the midfielders that Real Madrid were looking at as an option was Adam Wharton of Crystal Palace.
The England international has been on the club’s radar for a while now, but the Premier League club never opened the door for a summer departure.
Wharton could be on the market in 2027
However, now, according to The Guardian (h/t Bernabeu Digital), That stance could change next year, as that Palace would be prepared to consider selling Wharton during the next summer transfer window.
As mentioned already, Real Madrid have closely followed Wharton’s situation throughout the summer, although the club ultimately decided against making any further additions to their midfield.
Manchester City and Chelsea also showed serious interest in signing the England international during the summer. However, Crystal Palace were unwilling to sell, effectively ruling out a move for the midfielder.
But it appears that they could open the doors for Wharton to leave in the summer of 2027, potentially paving the way for Real Madrid to make a move.
Real Madrid continue to monitor Wharton
Real Madrid are expected to keep a close eye on Wharton’s progress ahead of the 2027 market. Should they decide they need another high-quality midfielder, the 22-year-old could once again emerge as a candidate.
Manchester City may be less likely to return for Wharton after strengthening their midfield significantly this summer.
Chelsea, however, could remain a potential competitor after failing to add a player in the position during the latest window.
For now, Wharton will remain at Crystal Palace, but the club’s willingness to consider a sale next summer means the midfielder could become a realistic option for Real Madrid in 2027.
