Real Madrid leaves nothing to chance. While Carlo Ancelotti focuses on the current season, Florentino Pérez and José Ángel Sánchez are already planning for the future. The squad continues to evolve, and defense is one of the key areas to strengthen.
A defense with an expiration date
The white defense has suffered many losses in recent times. Additionally, two of its pillars, Antonio Rüdiger and David Alaba, are over 30 years old. Both are high-level players, but the club understands that sooner or later a renewal will be needed.
In this context, a name has emerged strongly: William Saliba. The French center-back from Arsenal is the chosen one to lead the defense of the future. With a contract until 2027, his signing could be finalized in 2026 for a figure close to 55 million euros.
The emergence of Raúl Asencio
The present of Real Madrid also has an unexpected protagonist: Raúl Asencio. The young defender has proven to be reliable, and Ancelotti holds him in high regard. "He has shown to be a trustworthy center-back," said the Italian coach.
This means the club is in no hurry to sign another center-back immediately. The idea is to wait until 2026, when Rüdiger and Alaba's contracts expire, and make a strategic move with Saliba.
Mbappé wants him at Real Madrid
Saliba's signing is not just a matter of sports planning but also of affinity within the locker room. Kylian Mbappé, who will arrive at Santiago Bernabéu in the summer, has recommended his signing.
The Paris Saint-Germain forward and Saliba share a locker room in the French national team, and their rapport is total. Mbappé wants to surround himself with compatriots in Madrid, and the arrival of the center-back would be key to strengthening the defense and improving the star forward's adaptation.
A strategic move
Real Madrid's plan is clear. There will be no immediate signings for the defense, but in 2026, they will seek the major acquisition of Saliba. With one year remaining on his contract with Arsenal, the Frenchman would be a market opportunity.
Juni Calafat, the club's scouting expert, has excellent reports on him. Madrid trusts that his signing would provide a quality leap to the defense and secure the team's future.
Meanwhile, Rüdiger and Alaba already know that their time at the club has an expiration date. Saliba is the chosen one, and Mbappé's endorsement only reinforces the white club's strategy.