Real Madrid appears on the brink of a new era, with Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti reportedly set to depart for the Brazilian national team. Spanish manager Xabi Alonso is widely considered the top candidate to take over. Alonso recently confirmed he will leave Bayer Leverkusen this summer, concluding a successful spell highlighted by their historic first Bundesliga title. While his appointment at Real Madrid isn`t official yet, speculation is already rising about its potential impact. Let`s explore which Real Madrid players might benefit most from Alonso`s prospective arrival.
Arda Guler
Xabi Alonso`s time at Bayer Leverkusen demonstrated his ability to develop young talent, notably Florian Wirtz, whose tactical adjustments under Alonso significantly boosted his performance. This bodes well for Arda Guler. Since joining Real Madrid in 2023, the young Turkish midfielder has shown flashes of brilliance but hasn`t secured a consistent starting spot. Carlo Ancelotti acknowledged he needed time, but Guler now seems poised to break through. Alonso`s potential arrival coincides with Guler`s readiness to elevate his game and potentially become a key figure. Finding the optimal tactical role for Guler will be crucial, but his potential is undeniable.
Trent Alexander-Arnold
Predicting the exact squad under a new manager is difficult, but Real Madrid is expected to undergo changes this summer. A key feature of Alonso`s system at Leverkusen was the impactful use of attacking fullbacks like Alejandro Grimaldo and Jeremie Frimpong. While no signings are confirmed, reports strongly link Real Madrid with Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is leaving Liverpool. Alexander-Arnold`s experience and attacking prowess could make him a vital component of Alonso`s wing-focused play, though he likely wouldn`t be the only reinforcement in this area.
Jude Bellingham
Having discussed a current player seeking a breakthrough and a potential new arrival, let`s turn to an established star: Jude Bellingham. While attackers like Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior will likely continue in their roles, Bellingham`s position might evolve tactically under Alonso. Known for his versatility, Bellingham could be deployed in a deeper midfield role or pushed higher as an attacking midfielder, similar to Florian Wirtz`s impactful position at Leverkusen. Bellingham is arguably the current player best positioned to thrive under Alonso, potentially enhancing his already impressive contributions.
