Real Madrid have one of the weakest defenses of any top team in European football, and that has been the case for years, even when Carlo Ancelotti and the attack helped pull up a weak unit to another Champions League title in the 2023/24 season.
Years of neglecting the position has placed Real Madrid in an awkward position, and while Dean Huijsen and Alvaro Carreras joined the squad last season along with Trent Alexander-Arnold, only Trent has established himself as a clear starter - and he is not a man known for defending. Alvaro looks shaky, while Huijsen is more of a talent for the future than the present.
Real Madrid are expected to finally take the position seriously in the 2026 summer transfer window with Jose Mourinho coming in, and Mou already has designs on Alessandro Bastoni as a big name acquisition. Nico Schlotterback has an affordable release clause while Ibrahima Konate is officially in free agency, so there are options.
Real Madrid need to bolster their defense
With Pep Guardiola leaving Manchester City, two more center back options with a Champions League winning pedigree who are popular among fans are the Citizens duo of Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias, but it sounds like Madridistas should not get their hopes up for the Croatian international and Portuguese former Premier League Player of the Season.
According to a report from Simon Bajkowski of the Manchester Evening News, Manchester City would like to keep both Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol this summer, quieting transfer rumblings that they could be available for the picking for Real Madrid. Now, that does not necessarily mean it is impossible for them to move, as the new Man City regime could be more open to sales this summer, but it means that these two are not on the shopping list.
For Real Madrid, who like to be very cautious in spending these days, that means Gvardiol and Dias are probably going to be more expensive than they maybe should. And in that case, Florentino Perez may take them off the table, given he is already apparently lukewarm on midfielder Rodri.
Real Madrid fans would never say no to Gvardiol or Dias, but with nearing 30 years of age and Gvardiol not necessarily being the most consistent marking defender, the dream signings are still probably young guns Alessandro Bastoni and Nico Schlotterbeck. Stil, Gvardiol and Dias would waltz into this Real Madrid starting lineup right now, so it's a bit of bummer that Man City are not interested in selling.
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