Real Madrid will mend and make do for this season at the back. Despite a long-term injury to David Alaba, and the exit of Nacho Fernandez, they will not sign any more central defenders, save for a surrpise.
That was not the original plan, with Manchester United’s stealing away Leny Yoro from their grasps. It has been suggested Aymeric Laporte could be an option, and Carlo Ancelotti has given the green light to bring him in. However thus far, Madrid-based media have reported that Laporte would only be an option if Al-Nassr allow him to leave on a free, just a year after investing €27.5m on him.
At the club, they seem to have faith that Ancelotti can get by with Jesus Vallejo and the likes of Aurelien Tchouameni filling in. It was reported last week that Ancelotti is in favour of strengthening at the back, although he will accept the tools he is given. Now The Athletic are also reporting that some of the first-team players are surprised by the lack of action in the transfer market to strengthen their backline.
Part of that is down to the fact Los Blancos will be in action for a potentail 11 months, depending on how far they go in the World Club Cup. Real Madrid players are facing potentially their longest ever season, with 72 games possible, and young defender Joan Martinez, who was to at least fill in during first-team training sessions., has just torn his anterior cruciate ligament too.
