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

You do realize he played as a 8/10/box-to-box midfielder for BVB for 3 seasons and excelled there, right? He won the Kopa Award as the best U-21 player in the world as a midfielder in 2023 prompting top clubs to go after him? And we signed him to replace Modric in midfield?

However, when he got to RM, the midfield positions no longer suited him? Is it because of the weather in Spain? Or perhaps it was the food?

As you correctly pointed out, he played as a false 9 only for 16 weeks out of his 6+ year career. But somehow, your assessment indicates that's his best position.

4 months is an excellent sample size

Personally, I don't think anybody knows what his best position is, he himself doesn't know.

He offers inconsistent functional competence in several positions, rather than persistent excellence in a single one.

 

Who would be your choice to replace him with right now?

 

He was a Balon dor candidate in that role and just a exciting talent in the others. Besides Bundesliga is not a league I'd judge a player on. Jude hasn't the vision to create from a deeper role and passion from side to side does him a disservice. In a way he created unrealistic expectations for himself in that Carlo season and Carlo mentioned that himself. He isnt always going to be scoring every game but he can always play just as well without scoring. He shouldn't be playing in this deeper role. We didn't waste over 100 ME Euros on him for him to play side by side with our CBs in our own box.

 

Pogbamaxxxing

 

Fair enough. Then we are at least in agreement about not firing him immediately which is what a lot of people are advocating for.

 

Many of you are going way overboard, sometimes all it takes is the right player or two to unlock an offense. What we clearly need, that virtually everyone here agrees on, is a tempo-setting midfielder who can handle the ball under pressure, whether that be Wharton or whoever. Hopefully Perez listens to a boring recommendation of Xabi's and doesn't focus on a more shiny offensive starlet midfielder like Smit appears to be.

Along with that, we desperately need a healthy Trent, and if that is impossible, a top offensively capable RB to create an outlet under pressure that players genuinely want to use. Those 1-2 additions would make a world of difference and above all, I would never hold any kind of firesale of the core starters before seeing what we look like with those additions.

A healthy CB would allow Tchouameni to play DM consistently, relieving some defensive workload in the midfield as well as creating more counterattack opportunities.

Defensively, we clearly need an assertive, aggressive (healthy) partner for Huijsen if he is ever going to succeed. We need the type of CB to set an example and shout at him when he is not playing tight or aggressively enough. As much as I am blown away by Huijsen's passing ability, I do have grave concerns whether he can ever be our starting CB for the next decade(!) unless he significantly improves his defensive play.

Personally, I like Guler, but he has always been the "James" in this team, not Jude. There is no comparison between him and Jude as far as defensive capabilities. If we need funds for other signings and there is a club who thinks they can get the best of him like when we sold Odegaard, he should be first on the chopping block, as far as sales that will generate significant funds.

Finally, Xabi has to give more minutes to Gonzalo at CF, even if that means Mbappe at RW where he is less effective. The unbalanced shape of the team sabotages the midfield's passing play. If that doesn't work, we need a CF who can hold and pass the ball. It's a shame the timing was bad for Lewa and Kane, not that I'm sure Perez would ever have spent the 100 ME on the latter due to his age.

 

Everyone is gunning for Jude et al., but Huijsen was (for the umpteenth time) a complete horror show. He's been getting a grilling on other media platforms. But he's young, so he gets a pass I guess.

 

Camavinga was the real horror show.

 

I don’t care about his age. If a very good offer comes in for him in the summer, I’d sell. Easy.

He might have had it easy in the premier league but in Spain and Europe, teams are setup well and they know to press him. He panics.

 

🚨💣 BREAKING: Real Madrid have a CLAUSE to RECALL Endrick from loan.

It expires on January 20. @FabrizioRomano pic.twitter.com/SpbXqgo7IB

— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) January 12, 2026

 

I've read some reports saying that the club won't hold on to him for too long, as his value will simply tank. He still has a lot of equity, but if his performances continue in this way, the club will cut their losses with him, since he's still young and will draw attention.

 

Nah let him learn how to play football out there. He has a lot of development left. Probably needs a two season loan like Nico Paz.

 

Sorry bro but James is significantly better at that 10 role than Jude because no running and all, mofo play makes like no one else which Jude does very little of for a 10. He didn’t play much but when he did, he produced and was never one of the worst performers

 

Whatever happens in the coaching staff, we do need to shake up the roster a bit. Can’t come in with the same squad expecting different results

several key players gotto go

 

This!

We need a shake up alike 2014 with Bale arriving, Ozil moving on and CA as the new coach.

Vini needs to move on, a Kroos replacement found and a man manager coach hired.

 

🎖️🇪🇸Álex Jiménez (20) ha sido elegido mejor jugador del mes del Bournemouth. 🔝👏

Totalmente asentado ya en el XI del equipo inglés. pic.twitter.com/A7nvdeoz15

— Selección-Rojita (@SeleccionRojita) January 13, 2026

 

Real Madrid should compete with Man City for Marc Guehi.

 

Guehi is a free agent in 6 months. He is not going to cost that for anybody.

Nonetheless, it looks like we're willing to spend 50+ on Schlotterbeck instead.

 

Guehi will have seen our mess and go for City under a stable environment. Is what it is

 

I estimate we're gonna get mostly B grade level coaches for a while until the team gets sorted out.

I don't see a big name signing up for this soon.