Real Madrid decided not to make any January signings which isn't unusual for the La Liga club. There appeared to have been several opportunities for the transfer chiefs to swoop for potential reinforcements but they resisted.
Florentino Perez and the board are putting full focus on the summer and are expected to oversee a huge overhaul of the squad. That might not only mean incomings but also outgoings.
A new defender is one of the top priorites amid uncertainty growing over Antonio Rudiger's future. David Alaba is already heading for the exit door and both players' contracts are up in June.
One option for Madrid was Marc Guehi, who was available for sale, given his deal with Crystal Palace was set to expire at the end of the season. Manchester City won the race for the English center-back, bringing him to the Etihad for an initial £20m.
Real Madrid decided against rivalling Man City for Guehi
Madrid's reluctance to be active in January meant that the Spanish heavyweights snubbed the chance to battle City for Guehi. It's reported that he was offered to Los Blancos but the club didn't act, per Mario Cortegana of The Athletic.
Guehi has made an immediate impact under Pep Guardiola, starring in a 2-1 win over Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday (February 8th). He was branded 'world class' by the Premier League before the move and his stock has grown further within weeks of the transfer.
The 25-year-old was a mainstay in Palace's team that won the FA Cup last season and was one of England's best performers at Euro 2024. He is guaranteed a place on the plane to the World Cup this summer.
Guehi would have fit the bill for Madrid
Madrid have endured constant injury setbacks this season and the defense has been depleted as a result. Aurelien Tchouameni has been used as a makeshift center-back while the likes of Eder Militao, Alaba and Rudiger have spent spells on the sidelines.
Guehi was cheap, available and if he was keen on a move to the Bernabeu it was a market opportunity that the club should have pounced on. He not only has proven himself as an elite defender but his mentality is admirable as he's a workhorse and a leader.
With Los Blancos still trying to decide on a new center-back this summer it feels as though they have made a mistake. The England international wouldn't have just been a long-term solution but also help fix recurring problems occuring this season.