Rebuilding Madrid, One Pass at a Time - The Transfers, Rumors & Lies Thread

The team needs a classic target man—but not necessarily another Galáctico. We’ve seen before, during Pérez’s first stint at the club, that assembling a squad full of superstars doesn't always lead to success. Even during the Ronaldo era, despite playing alongside legends like Modrić, Benzema and Kroos, the team functioned more like a solar system than a galaxy. Everything revolved around one central figure—Cristiano Ronaldo. The others, as brilliant as they were, often took a backseat in service of the star. It wasn’t until after Ronaldo’s departure that the true brilliance of players like Benzema, Modrić, and Kroos came to the forefront.

In my view, we should focus on building a cohesive team around Mbappé, rather than adding another big ego to the mix.

 

BREAKING: Galatasaray want to sign Antonio Rüdiger this January.
@fanatikcomtr

 

We are in a crisis of defenders, I don’t think we e should be selling any

 

Regardless of the coaching situation, a couple of "big" names will leave in the summer. Jr. imo is closer to being sold than renewing.

I don't see Mbappe and Haaland working together, Jude's goal fetish also adds to this dilemma.

 

We still need to replace Kroos and Modric. Nothing will change if we don't address the midfield.

 

Mbappe,Haaland and Jude will be the most unbalanced team in history and the biggest failure ever seen,the names should not fool you,this will be a disastorius team

If we are going after Haaland,im keeping Vinicius,he plays better with a striker than Mbappe and he is milion times more creative ,Jude doesnt have a place in the squad no matter what the line up is imo

the guy cant play in midfielder,need to move to ball playing creative players ,sell

 

We have one fit defender out of 10. It's not acceptable.

If Perez does not sign an emergency defender in January, regardless of the sum, he can go and resign and step down.

 

Yeah.

But they are also envious of our trophy cabinet.

So meh.

 

We laugh at other teams all the time and will continue doing so. That's football.

 

🚨 NEW: Real Madrid have sent their scouts multiple times to watch 20yo French CB Jeremy Jacquet, and they consider him an incredible talent.

They believe he fits perfectly in the club's policy of signing young talents. @MatteMoretto pic.twitter.com/vX0i4XYzbu

— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) December 12, 2025

Which basically means he’ll be going somewhere else as Perez doesnt want to cough up for a defender.

 

Perez bought 3 defenders last summer, including two at their buyout clause price. So how do you come to this conclusion?

 

Estimated Total: ~€123 million to €125 million in transfer fees on defenders over the last five years.

• Dean Huijsen: €58–59.5m
  
  
• Álvaro Carreras: €50m
  
  
• Trent Alexander-Arnold: €10m
  
  
• Fran García: ~€5m
  
  
• Rüdiger: €0m (free)
  
  
• Alaba: €0m (free)

i am sure even Barca should have spent more than us

 

And we kept players that aren't even fit to play, you can make a strong argument that letting Dani stay is acceptable but whatever sentimental value was attached to that decision is completely undone when guys like Alaba and Mendy are still here too. The board is responsible for our situation, the lack of options on defense, is the board, the run of games away from home, again the board. Perez set CA up for failure last year and essentially did same thing this season to Xabi.

 

So why would he spend more money? He's going for the freebies in 2026

 

I think ww need a galactico signing in midfield...we lost kroos and modric and didnt buyed a proper replacement for them...Arda aint on that level still..i cant blame him because Modric and Kroos werent also at his age

 

You mean the players brought in this past summer were all strikers?

 

Exactly. So would he spend at least another 100m on defenders when he's targeting freebies in 2026.

 

He (Perez) won't, sign a defender (or any player) in the winter and he won't resign. Just accept this.
Perez is already building Alonso's failure for the end of the year when he fire him, the only question who the f does he think will want to come and take the coaching job?

 

My feeling is we need to sign Rb and CB in winter - i am very sure that Militão and Carvajal would be perpetually injured for the rest of the season.

For summer, we need to bring two world-class midfielders. and one more CB replace Alaba and Rudiger and also a portable Dm who is more portable than our current options

Letting Vinijr go would be a big mistake. And Rodrygo is too inconsistent. Xabi may be very capable as coach, but we need a more personality in a manager like Zidane or Carlos or Julian Nagelsmann

 

I’m sorry to tell you this, but you’re wrong.

Barca spent total of €95m euros in the last 5 years on defenders. Basically, all the defenders they signed for money turned out to be flops, except Koundé.

 

Lineker had a chat with Valdano who said Xabi is a good coach, but RM really miss a playmaker like Kroos whom they are missing badly unlike Ronaldo, Benzema etc. Valdano also told him Xabi wanted Zubimendi due to this flaw in the squad. His co-host who's ex RMTV presenter also makes the same point.

https://as.com/futbol/videos/la-con...e-este-madrid-no-tiene-desperdicio-f202512-v/

 

Zubimendi has clearly elevated Arsenal's level as a team, this isn't even up for discussion.
Had we signed him Xabi could have implemented the 3-2-5 shape with ease too, as he's a proper double pivot player unlike say Fede or Jude or worse, Arda.