After capturing their 35th La Liga football title, Real Madrid is focused and turning its attention to next season. The historic club continues to dominate the highest level of Spanish football but with clubs like Atletico Madrid and longtime rival Barcelona always in the hunt to dethrone Real Madrid, head coach Carlo Ancelotti and the rest of his staff are preparing for the upcoming 2022-2023 season.
Expectations for this club are always high. From the watchful eye of a passionate fan base to sports betting sites, Real Madrid’s expectations are well known. Diehard fans expect the club to be in the running for a 36th title while betting sites have listed odds in anticipation of another profitable season. Nothing short of a league championship is on the minds of Real Madrid and their expectations have been confirmed by popular sports betting sites and a determined fan base.
La Liga is ever-evolving. Transfers and signings could be the difference-maker in a club reaching the peak of the table. Rosters are important to a club’s success, which is why all the top programs are looking at the best options to remain in the hunt for a championship. But for a club like Real Madrid, how can you improve on a successful season? Being complacent won’t keep Real at the top and their plans for next season are already unfolding.
The obvious hole in Real Madrid’s starting 11 will be Gareth Bale. After 9 seasons with the club, Bale has announced that he won’t be returning to the club. Despite an underwhelming final season, his career at the Bernabeu featured five Champions Leagues and three LaLiga titles.
Bale isn’t the only player who won’t return to Santiago Bernabeu next season. Isco departs from the club after 9-seasons. The 30-year-old was released from the club, appearing in 14 matches last season.
Real Madrid missed out on the Kylian Mbappe transfer sweepstakes as well, meaning the club may be scrambling to add another star to its roster. This is an interesting time for the LaLiga champions. Should Real opt to use that money set aside for Mbappe on a different target or do they try and find a cheaper alternative until they can launch another signing blitz once Mbappe’s contract is complete with Paris Saint-Germain?
There is no complete and distinct answer. The correct move might be both. Real Madrid needs help for 34-year-old Karim Benzema as the aging star has had to carry forward duties for the club.
The good news is that there are options if Real Madrid wants to sign another top player. Although he would not be a long-term option, Robert Lewandowski might be the perfect bridge option for now until Mbappe is ready (after three seasons). As well, Real Madrid could look at players such as Harry Kane and Serge Gnabry.
Real Madrid have already started preparations for the future. The club brought in 19-year-old Eduardo Camavinga from Stade Rennais of France and is set to grow into his own under the tutelage of Ancelotti.
Looking at the 2022-2023 season, Brahim Diaz is the newest addition to the club. The 22-year-old midfielder has split his professional career between AC Milan and Real Madrid. Older and stronger, Diaz should be an impactful player for Real this season.
Another French star may don the Real Madrid crest in 2023 as well. With a verbal commitment to Real Madrid, Aurelien Tchouameni has been a star with Monaco during his time in Ligue 1. One of the biggest stars of France, his addition would be incredible for Real Madrid.
What’s important for Real Madrid at this stage is that they keep options open. They cannot sign an expensive, long-term option if they want to look at Mbappe. The aforementioned players should fit nicely with Real Madrid for the interim. For a club that has not struggled recently and are at the top of the table in LaLiga, making a splash is necessary, especially considering rivals Barcelona and Atletico Madrid are looking to dethrone the 35x champions.
The good news for Real Madrid is that there are moves to be made and money to be spent with quality options. While they may have whiffed on signing Mbappe, there is more than enough talent to help keep Real at the top of the LaLiga table. It all boils down to what the club wants to commit to. They have enough youth to help with the eventual transitional period when their aging stars walk away.
For the 2022-2023 season, it makes sense for Real to attack a star in place of Mbappe. There is no certainty about what the future holds so Los Blancos need to do everything they can to win another league title. And in doing so, they may need to spend money otherwise saved for Kylian Mbappe.
