The Real Madrid injury crisis rolls on. Carlo Ancelotti’s side, who had hoped to retain both La Liga and the Champions League in the first edition of the new Swiss Style format of the European Championship, have fallen victim to their busy schedule. Indeed, the La Liga betting odds are heavily favouring Barcelona, under the guidance of new manager Hansi Flick, to win the title after their fast start, and it could be too much for Madrid to prevent already.
While injuries have undoubtedly played a major role in Real Madrid’s struggles, there is growing scrutiny over the club’s summer transfer window. Behind the scenes, it’s believed that Madrid’s hierarchy regrets their failure to address several key areas of the squad.
The decision not to replace retired midfield maestro Toni Kroos and experienced striker Joselu has left glaring gaps, while the lack of defensive reinforcements following long-term injuries to Eder Militao and David Alaba has raised eyebrows.
These shortcomings have left Carlo Ancelotti navigating a congested schedule with a threadbare squad, amplifying the challenges of competing on multiple fronts. Beaten three times in their first five Champions League games, the loss to Liverpool at Anfield highlighted the need for replacements at the Santiago Bernabeu.
“Outside of the muscle issues, we have also had seven anterior cruciate ligament (injuries),” Ancelotti said. “We have to try to think like we did last year, that injuries have been a great opportunity for us to become better. It’s no coincidence that the injuries of Militao, Lucas and Rodrygo against Osasuna have changed the dynamic of the team.”
“Avoiding (them) is difficult, because it’s not only Madrid’s problem, but also of other teams. Each team handles these things in their own way, but what does not change are the injuries. We have to put up with this.
Attention now turns to the January transfer window, where Madrid know that some key signings can help turn their fortune around.
Madrid have historically been reluctant to make significant moves in the January transfer window, often preferring to plan their spending in the summer. However, there have been exceptions when the club has been forced to act, and some of these mid-season signings have proved pivotal.
The arrivals of Lassana Diarra and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar in January 2009 helped steady a struggling squad, while Emmanuel Adebayor’s loan move in 2011 provided a crucial boost to their attacking options during a challenging campaign.
These rare but impactful signings highlight how mid-season reinforcements can make a real difference when the squad is stretched.
Ideally, Madrid would sign a creator who can match the output of the forwards while also adding composure to the midfield. Florian Wirtz’s future is shaping up to be one of the hottest topics in the transfer market, with the Bayer Leverkusen star under contract until 2027, but speculation about a potential move in 2025 has already caught the attention of Europe’s elite.
Madrid were once seen as Bayern Munich’s primary challengers for the Germany international’s signature. However, Leverkusen’s reported asking price of over €100 million means we could have to wait until the summer for a signing of that magnitude.
Defensively, there also needs to be some cover. Reports indicate that Real drew up a four-man shortlist – Vitor Reis, Castello Lukeba, Aymeric Laporte, and Jonathan Tah are all put forward as options under consideration.
Reis is something of an unknown entity for Europe, plying his trade for Brazilian side Palmeiras, who would look to keep him until this summer’s Club World Cup, but Tah and Laporte are known at the top level.
Having won multiple trophies with Manchester City and playing a pivotal role in Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph, Laporte brings a winning mentality that would instantly strengthen Madrid’s defence, while Tah – a teammate of Wirtz at Leverkusen – helped guide Xabi Alonso’s side to an invincible Bundesliga title.
Ultimately, Madrid’s success this season could hinge on how they navigate the January transfer window. With gaps in key areas and a congested fixture list ahead, the right signings could provide the depth and quality needed to reignite their campaign.
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