Real Madrid are always looking at the transfer market. Even when they are not signing players, they are always active in the market trying to look at opportunities.
Just about four years ago, when Real Madrid had their eyes set on signing Kylian Mbappe, but they weren't able to, they signed Eduardo Camavinga out of the blue. When it looked like there won't be a new Real Madrid player apart from David Alaba that season, Camavinga became an overnight signing.
That is what they are always doing. They are always looking at the market, which also showed us the signing of Franco Mastantuono, who had his presentation at Real Madrid earlier on Thursday.
The one thing in that presentation that was noticed by many people was that Mastantuono got the number 30 jersey - the same jersey he used to wear at River Plate - in his first season at Real Madrid.
Now, if you know La Liga rules, only numbers 1 through 25 are allowed to be official first team players, which means Mastantuono - Real Madrid's expensive teenage signing - will be registered with Castilla.
Real Madrid could sign one or two more players before the end of the transfer window
Obviously, that doesn't mean Mastantuono will play with Castilla, but he will just be registered with them.
That leaves one number in the squad completely open. 25 was left open by Real Madrid even though Mastantuono could have easily taken it, presumably because they intend to sign someone.
I am guessing they are trying to sign a player before the end of the season. It could be any player, or it could just be them looking at the market for potential opportunities, just like they did with Camavinga all those years ago.
Real Madrid clearly need a central defender, and possibly a midfielder signing this season, but all of that also depends on sales. It depends on the club selling one player if they want to accommodate two more. Rodrygo could be sold soon, so that is one to keep an eye on.
Real Madrid do need players, though, and it is good that they have left a spot open. It remains to be seen what they do with it.