Real Madrid Midfield Crisis Looms Ahead of Final Preseason Test

Real Madrid is heading into their final preseason friendly with a significant problem on their hands. Just days before the start of the La Liga season, coach Xabi Alonso is facing a midfield crisis, with key players like Jude Bellingham, Eduardo Camavinga, and Fede Valverde all sidelined. The team is set to face their last preseason test in Austria with a threadbare midfield, relying on a mix of veteran and young talent.

Preseason Injuries Plague the Midfield

The injury woes began with the news that Fede Valverde has a muscle strain in his right leg, forcing him to stay behind in Madrid. This setback follows the ankle sprain suffered by Eduardo Camavinga just a day earlier. Both players are expected to be fit for the season opener against Osasuna next Tuesday, but their absence for this final friendly is a clear cause for concern.

This leaves Xabi Alonso with only three first-team midfielders available: Aurélien Tchouaméni, Arda Güler, and Dani Ceballos. Tchouaméni and Güler were key figures during the Club World Cup campaign, while Ceballos continues to face an uncertain future amid ongoing interest from Real Betis. To fill the gaps, academy players Thiago Pitarch and Roberto Martín have been called up to the squad, with Pitarch having already impressed by scoring in a recent closed-door friendly against Leganés.

Bellingham’s Surgery and Alonso’s New-Look Team

Adding to the list of midfield absentees is superstar Jude Bellingham. After the Club World Cup and a brief period of rest, Bellingham finally underwent surgery to address a lingering shoulder injury that has bothered him for much of his time at the club. Despite the discomfort, the English midfielder was arguably Real Madrid’s best player last season, but the decision to operate was made to ensure his long-term fitness.

The match in Austria will be the first and only public glimpse of the “new Real Madrid” under Xabi Alonso, as the preseason has been the shortest in the club’s history due to their Club World Cup commitments. Early indications suggest Alonso has been experimenting with a three-center-back formation, and the performances of new signings Huijsen and Alexander-Arnold have been particularly promising. This final friendly offers a crucial opportunity to test these new tactics before the competitive season begins.

Looking Ahead: The Osasuna Opener and Mastantuono’s Arrival

With the new season fast approaching, the team’s focus will quickly shift to their La Liga debut against Osasuna. The arrival of new signing Franco Mastantuono, who will be officially presented on Thursday, is a welcome boost. The Argentine prodigy from River Plate is highly regarded and his addition to the squad could provide much-needed depth and talent to a midfield that is currently stretched thin.