Although there is still something to play for in the 2025/26 La Liga season and one last Clasico on the list for Real Madrid, the focus around the fan base has clearly turned to the 2026 summer transfer window with the league title all but a lost cause and turmoil continuing to run through this team. Even Kylian Mbappe and Aurelien Tchouameni have seemingly given up on Real's season, focusing their attention on the World Cup, just as Dani Carvajal, Dani Ceballos, and his contingent of overinflated and underperforming Spaniard did months ago.
Real Madrid are in need of serious upgrades and players who are actually the right character for the club - not scared children like Dean Huijsen, entitled toddlers like Franco Mastantuono, or infantile tyrants of the Kylian Mbappe ilk. Now these harsh words for these three can easily be undone if they were to show improvement, but, for now, those are the labels earned by three very talented but significantly concerning players.
The biggest problems Real Madrid have, though the media attention on the forwards would have one thinking otherwise, are on the defensive side. And they have been defensive even back when Carlo Ancelotti (and Toni Kroos) was papering over all the problems in the 2023/24 season when Los Merengues conquered the Champions League once more.
Nico Schlotterbeck is a risk worth taking
There is buzz that Nico Schlotterbeck, who is the center back who checks off the most boxes Real Madrid are looking for this summer, has a special release clause in his newly minted contract "extension" with Borussia Dortmund that would enable him to join Real Madrid for 60 million euros.
Now, the release clause is not exclusive to Real Madrid, but it is rather for a nebulous "dream club" that Schlotterbeck wants to join. There is controversy on whether or not that clause includes Dortmund's long time rivals Bayern Munich, who have been linked to Schlotterbeck and whom Dortmund are loathe to lose players to.
But we all know that with how close of a relationship Dortmund and Real Madrid have and with how massive Madrid are, they are the ones to think about in this clause. And even back before Schlotterbeck joined Dortmund when he was first breaking out as a Bundesliga star for Freiburg with elite athleticism and ball playing chops, Real Madrid were watching him.
At 26 years of age, Schlotterbeck is entering his prime, and Real Madrid are crossing their fingers that this clause is real. Because 60 million euros, barely more than the fee paid for Dean Huijsen and other inferior players, is a steal for one of the top two center backs in the Bundesliga. Real Madrid need to take a risk on a great athlete and big personality in defense, and Schlotterbeck is someone with boom or bust potential, yes, but someone who can truly transform an ailing back line.
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