Real Madrid News
Real Madrid working on signing a new midfielder in 2027 – Romano
While we are still at the early stages of the season, it has been pretty evident that Real Madrid have lacked the composure and stability that Barcelona have shown this season.
A key reason has been the instability in midfield, with Jose Mourinho yet to find the right combination that can not only dictate the tempo but also circulate the ball quickly into the final third.
The relative lack of quality from existing options have only led Real Madrid to rue missing out on Rodri in the summer.
Real Madrid working on a new midfielder for 2027
According to Fabrizio Romano (h/t Defensa Central), Real Madrid continue to work on strengthening their midfield, believing that their current lot isn’t enough to compete with the best in Europe.
It has mentioned repeatedly that the club are serious about finding long-term replacements for players like Toni Kroos and Luka Modric – something they haven’t been able to do so far.
Keeping that in mind, Romano adds that Real Madrid are focused on signing a new midfielder in the near future.
The club could try to sign a top-class individual either in the upcoming January transfer window or wait until the summer of 2027. Either way, finding a world class midfielder has taken priority at the club.
What are Real Madrid’s options?
It will be difficult for Real Madrid to find someone with the same calibre as Rodri, but that doesn’t necessarily mean there are shortage of options in the transfer market.
The upcoming January window could once again open up the opportunity for Los Blancos to potentially go after summer target Adam Wharton of Crystal Palace.
Scott McTominay has surprisingly emerged as an option for Real Madrid lately, following the ex-Man United star’s success at Napoli.
Alex Scott is someone Real Madrid have been linked with since the start of the season. And it will be interesting to see if Los Blancos can make a move in January.
Real Madrid have an interesting selection dilemma at left-back, with Marc Cucurella and Alvaro Carreras competing for a starting spot under Jose Mourinho.
While Cucurella brings experience and an established reputation, Carreras is making an increasingly convincing case to become the team’s first-choice option.
The battle between the two Spaniards is particularly relevant given Madrid’s defensive difficulties so far this season.
Mourinho is searching for greater defensive stability and has an important choice to make between Cucurella and Carreras.
Carreras offers the defensive security Madrid need
One of Carreras’ biggest strengths is his ability to defend in one-v-one situations.
The 23-year-old generally looks comfortable against direct wingers, showing patience in his positioning and making it difficult for opponents to get past him.
That defensive reliability is particularly valuable in Mourinho’s system, where full-backs can find themselves isolated when Madrid lose possession.
Cucurella, meanwhile, has occasionally looked vulnerable against opponents attacking him directly, with space opening up for crosses from his side.
With Vinicius Junior usually playing ahead of him, the former Chelsea man does not get the defensive support he needs from his winger, leaving him isolated.
However, Carreras’ case is not built entirely on defending. He is also comfortable carrying possession forward, driving into space and helping Madrid progress down the left flank.
This makes him an attractive option for a team that has struggled to progress the ball up the pitch as consistently as they would have hoped.
Cucurella still offers qualities Mourinho values
Despite the growing case for Carreras, Cucurella should not be dismissed, and his reputation should not be forgotten.
His experience, aggressive pressing and willingness to engage opponents higher up the pitch can be useful when Madrid want to pin back the opposition.
He is also capable of moving into central areas to support possession, giving Mourinho different tactical possibilities.
However, Cucurella’s attacking contributions have not always been as influential as expected during these early weeks.
The Spaniard made a name for himself at Chelsea and with Spain by getting into attacking positions and creating chances for his teammates.
At Madrid, however, with the team looking to pass the ball quickly to runners like Vinicius and Mbappe, the best aspect of Cucurella’s game has not come to the fore.
This makes defensive solidity the primary requirement for Madrid’s left-back, and it is here that Carreras seems to have an advantage over Cucurella.
Carreras deserves an extended opportunity
At this stage, Carreras has a strong argument for becoming Madrid’s preferred left-back.
His defensive qualities appear particularly suited to the team’s immediate needs, while his ability to carry possession ensures Madrid would not sacrifice much attacking potential.
Instead of treating the left-back role as a game of musical chairs, Mourinho would be better off giving one of the two an extended run to make the position their own.
Competition for places is healthy as long as it does not breed insecurity, and at the moment, Carreras seems to be in better form than Cucurella.
It will not be easy to justify benching a summer investment, but Mourinho’s job is to make those difficult calls, and it remains to be seen how he approaches this decision.
