For Real Madrid, after roughly a quarter of the season has passed, they have built a 5-point lead at the top of the league standings. Considering Barcelona’s recent struggles, Xavi Alonso’s team is in a strong position to extend their advantage. At the same time, the “Old Florentine” (Florentino Pérez) has begun to turn his attention to the transfer market, with several key moves already making substantial progress—potentially becoming crucial assets for Real Madrid in the second half of the season.
01
€140 Million Forward “Exiled”
In the forward line, Mastantono has received special “attention” from Xavi Alonso this season. So far, the young Argentine has appeared in 11 matches in La Liga and the Champions League, starting 8 of them, with a total of 599 minutes played and 1 goal scored. On paper, these minutes suggest a key role in the squad. However, judging from his on-field performance, Mastantono’s contributions in attack have been minimal. While he shows a positive attitude and helps with defensive pressing, his offensive impact is limited. Specifically, Mastantono averages only 29.3 passes per match with an 89% completion rate, ranking around 15th in the squad. Additionally, he averages just 0.9 dribbles and 0.7 key passes per match, figures that are far from impressive.
Because Mastantono had occupied a starting role for an extended period despite underwhelming performances, Xavi Alonso has faced significant criticism. Many observers argue that Real Madrid’s underperformance in attack is directly linked to Alonso’s “favoritism.” Ultimately, unable to withstand the pressure, Alonso compromised, drastically reducing Mastantono’s playing time in the last two matches. According to Marca, Real Madrid’s management appreciates Mastantono’s work ethic and recognizes his potential—the €50 million market value on Transfermarkt reflects professional confidence in him. However, given his current form and level, he is not yet ready to shoulder major responsibilities in the first team. In this context, the club hopes to loan Mastantono out in the winter transfer window, allowing him to “level up” in a similar manner to Díaz in past seasons.
In addition to Mastantono, another forward, Rodrygo, is also in a difficult situation. After failing to secure a summer transfer, Rodrygo has completely lost Xavi Alonso’s trust this season and has become a permanent substitute. So far, he has started only 2 La Liga matches without scoring or assisting. With the winter window approaching, Rodrygo’s departure is back on the agenda. It is reported that Florentino Pérez has communicated with him, encouraging him to find a new club. It seems that the €90 million forward is unlikely to avoid exile from the “White Army.”
02
€130 Million Top-Class “Metronome” Joins
In the defensive midfield, both Tchouaméni and Camavinga have recently regained form, but these former “€100 million men” still show clear deficiencies in organizing the attack. Particularly Camavinga, despite high expectations, has limitations in game reading and passing vision. Additionally, as a defensive midfielder, his positional awareness is average, which has left him somewhat underwhelming in Real Madrid’s setup.
Previously, reports linked players like Angelo Stiller and Adam Walton to Real Madrid, but according to Spanish media outlet Relevo, none of these players were genuinely in Florentino Pérez’s sights, as the club believed their abilities were insufficient to bring a transformative impact. Real Madrid’s true target is Enzo Fernández. The Argentine international has developed into one of Europe’s top defensive midfielders over the past two seasons, excelling in controlling the game’s tempo, distributing passes, intercepting defensively, and making forward runs. It is reported that Real Madrid plans to make a €130 million bid to Chelsea to secure this elite “metronome” for their squad.
