With the new season right around the corner, expectations are high for Real Madrid as they seek to bounce back from a very disappointing season, which saw them fail in pursuit of the three major trophies available to them.
With a new manager in Xabi Alonso and plenty of new signings, expectations are high for Los Merengues.
The most recent of those signings is Alvaro Carreras, a 22-year-old Spanish left-back from Benfica. He joins a litany of other signings, including Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dean Huijsen, and Franco Mastantuono.
Carreras is young, fast, and hungry, making him the perfect profile for Xabi Alonso's project.
It seems unlikely that any other significant additions will come Real Madrid's way this summer (though with Florentino Perez, you truly never know) so with that being said,
I'm going to pick my best XI for Real Madrid. As a note, I'm not going to be picking out a formation, it's just simply the 11 players who give Real Madrid the best chance to win.
Goalkeeper - Thibaut Courtois
The easiest pick of the lot, Courtois remains the best goalkeeper in the world. He won't be 34 until May, and shows no signs of slowing down.
An elite shot stopper and a commander in the air, he was one of the few players who could always consistently be relied upon. Not much more needs to be said.
Left-Back - Alvaro Carreras
Real Madrid's options at left-back outside of Carreras are not all that encouraging. Ferland Mendy is injured far too often to be relied upon, and while Fran Garcia was impressive at the Club World Cup, he needs to show it at a more consistent level.
That brings us to Carreras, who is not only the most exciting option, but he's also the most reliable, which you can seldom say about new arrivals at the Bernabeu.
But that's what Carreras is, as he never had an injury with Benfica, and delivered consistent performances for the Portuguese outfit. He's excellent defensively, and has a work rate that will make Madridistas cheer.
When you have Vinicius Jr. on the left flank, you don't need Alphonso Davies or Andy Robertson to liven up your left side. Carreras will defend well, and that's why he should slot in at left-back.
Centre-Backs - Dean Huijsen and Antonio Rudiger
Once again, I have chosen a new signing to fill a defensive role. Real Madrid's defense was calamitous last year, and was the main culprit behind its failures in all competitions.
Perez and Alonso have smartly rectified this, and that included the arrival of Spanish starlet Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth.
At 6'5, he's an imposing physical presence who's adept at pressing and has pace. He should pair well with the veteran Rudiger, especially if the German can recapture his form from 2023-24.
I know people are very excited about Raul Asencio, but for me, Huijsen seems to have a sense of calm, and doesn't make the rash challenges that Asencio does.
A lot of this will depend on how Rudiger does, if last year was a one-off and not a sign of him aging, then I expect him to lead the line. If not, then we could see Huijsen-Asencio sooner rather than later. But for now Huijsen and Rudiger get the nod from me
Right-Back - Trent Alexander-Arnold
This was a tough one, as every Madridsta knows what Dani Carvajal means to the club and how good he was even 14 months ago. But a lot of time has passed, and I just don't think you can count on him being the same player. So in steps Trent Alexander-Arnold
He brings a ton of attacking upside to the right flank, a side that was simply a non-factor last season. His crossing is elite, and his field vision is world-class.
Yes, his defending needs work, and honestly, if you need to see out a game with ten minutes to go, I'd much rather see Dani Carvajal on the pitch. But I don't think his defensive gaps are as bad as people make them out to be, and his attacking prowess more than makes up for it.
Central Defensive Midfielder - Aurelien Tchouameni
Fine, call me crazy. We all have that one player that we are never gonna give up on. For me, Aurelien Tchouameni is that player.
Last season was very rough, I won't deny it. But he's been played out of position for two seasons. He is not a center-back, he's a defensive midfielder, and when he has played at his correct position, he has been one of Real Madrid's most consistent players.
There aren't very many options that would maximize the strengths of Real Madrid's best players. While Valverde can play anywhere, he seems to thrive in a more advanced role, as does Bellingham.
Off the bench, there is Camavinga, but he has so many peaks and valleys that I don't think Xabi Alonso can rely on him. He might not be perfect, but Tchouameni does suit Real Madrid as a deep lying playmaker better than any other player in the squad.
Central Midfielders - Jude Bellingham and Federico Valverde
This may be the most intriguing position to choose from. Real Madrid have an embarrassment of riches in the middle of the park.
From Bellingham and Valverde to Camavinga and Tchouameni to Brahim Diaz, Arda Guler, and the teenager Franco Mastantuono. The effort made by Juni Calafat to prepare for the future must be applauded. But the future is now, and decisions have to be made.
I chose these two players because, not only are they crucial to the team, but they are also two of the team's most beloved members, representing the heartbeat of Real Madrid.
Federico Valverde does quite literally anything you could ask of him, from engaging in duels to carrying the ball and picking out passing lanes; he's truly the ultimate Swiss Army Knife. Bellingham's tenacity and movement are elite, and his eye for goal is something you seldom see in a midfielder
They are both crucial to the success of the team this year, and must be key players if Real Madrid hope to achieve their goals.
Left-Winger- Vinicius Jr.
We move onto the attack, and this one is pretty obvious, it's Real Madrid's Brazilian sensation Vinicius Junior. Now, I'll be honest, last season was very disappointing from Vini.
He struggled with fitness, and even when he was fit, he found it hard to gel with Mbappe. He certainly had his moments, but it seemed like the Ballon d'Or robbery affected him mentally (and who could blame him).
But if a down year is 22 goals and 19 assists in all competitions, then Europe should be scared for what he'll do in a season and system that gets the best out of him.
Truthfully, there is no danger here for him. He is at worst Real Madrid's second best player, and capable at any point of changing the outcome of a match, a tournament, and a season.
He is that special, and with Xabi Alonso's tactical acumen, if he can turn Florian Wirtz into a superstar, imagine what he can do with VInicus Jr.
Right-Winger - Arda Guler
Madridistas have been screaming from the mountaintops for Arda Guler to get significant playing time, but under Ancelotti, that never materialized.
Though with Xabi Alonso at the helm, it appears that it is finally Arda Guler's time. He was one of the most important (and best) players for Real Madrid at the Club World Cup and he's only going to get better
He'll face stiff competition from the likes of Endrick, Brahim, and Rodrygo (if he stays), but it seems like Xabi Alonso is infatuated with Guler, and for good reason. His ball control, technical ability, pace, and eye for goal are all mouth-watering.
He can also drop back into midfield, swapping with Valverde or Bellingham and picking out passes from deep. They don't call him Turkish Messi for no reason.
I've said this in previous articles, but there will inevitably be growing pains and frustrations with Guler, but truthfully, no one offers the same upside as the young Turk, and he's the best option on the right flank.
Striker - Kylian Mbappe
And finally, Real Madrid's main man, Kylian Mbappe, up front. Like Vincius Jr, many pundits and fans accused Mbappe of struggling in his debut season with his boyhood club.
If winning the Pichichi with 31 goals and scoring 44 goals in all competitions is considered "struggling," then a comfortable, focused Kylian Mbappe may completely decimate the defenses of Europe's top teams.
His second half of the season was incredible, and was honestly one of the few bright spots by the end of the campaign. He is the best player at the club, the talisman, and no one should sniff at his position in the starting XI.
He's going to be on a mission this season, and I, for one, am excited to see the levels he hits, if his debut season was just an appetizer.
Truthfully, there are many ways that Real Madrid and Xabi Alonso could go throughout the season, as a great manager is always flexible. But these 11 players do give Real Madrid the best chance at winning, So I would hope we see something akin to this.
Either way, we won't have to wait too long to see what Xabi Alonso is cooking up, as Real Madrid will host Osasuna at the Bernabeu on August 19th.