This summer, the addition of Mbappe seemed to herald the "Galactic Battleship" setting sail once again, heading full speed towards various championship trophies. However, half a season of actual combat has mercilessly shattered the beautiful fantasy.
In the Champions League, Real Madrid stumbled and struggled forward; in the league, they were brutally slaughtered by Barcelona with a painful score of 4-0. This outcome indicates that simply stacking superstars is far from enough; there are many pressing issues with Real Madrid's squad depth and tactical compatibility that need to be addressed.
The center forward position was originally hoped to be perfectly resolved with the arrival of Mbappe. However, Mbappe's strength lies in his breakthroughs and attacks on the left flank, which conflicts with Vinicius, who is also active on the left, making the personnel configuration in this area somewhat redundant, while the true center forward issue remains unresolved. At this time, Real Madrid keenly noticed Manchester City's poor performance this season and the pressure from the financial fair play regulations, which may result in them being unable to participate in the Champions League next season. Therefore, Haaland entered Real Madrid's transfer radar, and the addition of this super center forward is expected to completely solve the persistent problem of insufficient attacking power in the middle of Real Madrid's front line.
The defensive midfielder position has also fallen into trouble. The arrival of Tchouameni was supposed to be a strong supplement to Casemiro's departure, but reality has taken a different turn. Tchouameni lacks sufficient intensity in defensive midfield and his passing ability is not up to par. More worrying is that he, born in 1997, seems to have prematurely lost his vitality on the field, appearing "old and feeble," not fond of running and pressing, which greatly reduces his defensive and organizational role in midfield. To make up for this deficiency, Real Madrid has set its sights on Rodri, the main defensive midfielder of Manchester City and Ballon d'Or winner. If he can join, it will add new stability to Real Madrid's midfield.
The two fullback positions also require change. Real Madrid plans to sign Alphonso Davies and midfielder Arnold, whose contracts are about to expire, for free. Alphonso Davies' speed and physical attributes will inject new energy into Real Madrid's left-side attack and defense; Arnold, with his excellent offensive ability, especially his crossing skills, is expected to enhance the quality of Real Madrid's right-side offense.
The central defender position is also not optimistic. With Militao suffering from knee injuries, Arsenal's defensive cornerstone Saliba has become an important transfer target for Real Madrid. His arrival will add new strength to the team's backline and enhance the stability of the defense.
If such a lineup is really built successfully, it will be a breathtaking sight. Courtois, the goalkeeper, guards the goal with his world-class height and reaction speed, forging a solid last line of defense for the team. The defensive line from left to right consists of Alphonso Davies, Rudiger, Saliba, and Arnold, a line with both speed and strength, as well as a certain balance between attack and defense. The midfield combination of Bellingham, Rodri, and Valverde will possess great power in attack-defense transitions and organization. The front line of Mbappe, Haaland, and Rodrygo is even more daunting, with Mbappe's speed, Haaland's finishing ability in front of the goal, and Rodrygo's mobility making Real Madrid's attack as sharp as mercury pouring down.