Real Madrid’s planning for the upcoming Club World Cup under Xabi Alonso is well underway, and the priority areas for reinforcements have already been established. While the arrival of Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back fulfilled one of Alonso's key requests before official negotiations even began, the club continues its search for a center-back and left-back.

Dean Huijsen remains the top candidate for the center-back role, while Álvaro Carreras leads the race on the left, though the club is also considering Alejandro Grimaldo as a strong alternative. However, the most notable development from these strategic talks between the club and its new manager is that Real Madrid is now actively pursuing a midfielder to strengthen the squad for next summer’s global tournament.

Several names have emerged, including a surprising return to the spotlight: Franco Mastantuono. Once thought to be off Real Madrid’s radar following previous failed negotiations and broken promises, the 17-year-old River Plate sensation is back in contention. According to TyC Sports, Mastantuono recently had a virtual meeting with club officials, signaling renewed interest. While there’s been no formal offer and his €45 million release clause remains a significant factor, his meteoric rise in Argentina has once again put him on Madrid's radar — albeit for next season, as he cannot join a European club until he turns 18 in August.

That said, Real Madrid is not pursuing a marquee signing for the midfield — not someone in the €100 million range — but rather a high-caliber player capable of contributing to the system. The focus is on players who are collective-minded, technically sound, and suited to Real Madrid’s evolving identity.

Three midfielders have recently gained traction within the club:

Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen): Once on the verge of joining Madrid during his River Plate days — he even passed a medical — Palacios is now under Xabi Alonso at Leverkusen and thriving.

Tijjani Reijnders (AC Milan): The Dutch midfielder, who scored at the Bernabéu in the Champions League this season, is also being tracked by Manchester City, with a rumored price tag of €50 million.

Angelo Stiller (Stuttgart): A 24-year-old German international, Stiller is considered the most tactically disciplined of the three, valued at around €40 million, and also appeared at the Bernabéu with Stuttgart this season.

In Alonso’s conversations with Real Madrid’s leadership, it was emphasized that the new midfield signing need not be a direct replacement for Toni Kroos, but rather someone who can inject energy, vision, and composure into Madrid’s build-up play — areas where the current squad, outside of Modric and Ceballos, has shown inconsistencies.

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