On Tuesday, Real Madrid will open the new season with a La Liga clash against Osasuna, marking Xabi Alonso’s first challenge of a fresh campaign under his command.
He has received most of the signings he wanted, though he may still desire more, and now it remains to be seen how he utilizes them to improve on the situation Madrid were in last season.
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen have already established themselves as immediate starters and are fairly expected to start the Osasuna game as well. The same goes for Alvaro Carreras, who is set to become Alonso’s undisputed left back, supported by Fran Garcia.
Real Madrid fans will love who Xabi Alonso is ready to trust against Osasuna
The fourth signing of the summer, Franco Mastantuono, has only just arrived, trained once with the team, and yet is already expected to feature on Tuesday according to Diario AS.
Reports suggest Mastantuono impressed Alonso and his staff in his very first session, enough for the manager to consider testing him out as early as the season opener.
His arrival addresses a long-standing problem. The right wing, almost non-existent last season, is set for a major overhaul with the Argentine’s inclusion, and I am genuinely excited to see it in action.
However, this also brings more bad news for Rodrygo, who keeps finding new reasons to consider a departure. His minutes were already expected to be reduced by Mastantuono, but nobody anticipated the impact to come this early.
We do not know yet if Rodrygo will start, though he should get some minutes. The same applies to Mastantuono, who, by all indications, will also get his opportunity.
How Alonso manages this balance will be fascinating to watch. For a season opener, it promises to be a tactical and technical showcase. Gear up for Tuesday, Real Madrid fans.