How Real Madrid could lineup under Xabi Alonso next season

Given the hefty expectations at the beginning of the season, this year has been a major disappointment for Real Madrid. Several major changes are expected this summer an it all starts with a new manager. 

Former Real Madrid player turned coach Xabi Alonso is expected to arrive at the club in the summer to replace the departing Carlo Ancelotti as he moves on to the Brazil national team. Alonso has had a stellar three years at Bayer Leverkusen and is ready to make the big jump to one of Europe's top clubs. 

Along with Alonso, several new players are expected to arrive in the summer as the club are in desperate need of reinforcements in a number of positions on the field. 

The club has already announced the arrival of central defender Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth on a five-year contract. Along with Huijsen, many are expecting the arrivals of right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool and left-back Alvaro Carreras from Benfica. These new players are part of the defensive overhaul the team is in desperate need of heading into the 2025-26 season. 

However, with all these new signings arriving, and with the copious amount of talent already at the club, how will new manager Alonso lineup his team during his first match later this summer? With Alonso rumored to be looking at a 4-4-2 formation, this lineup would be the most likely option. 

There is no change at goalkeeper as Thibaut Courtois remains the number one option, however, the defensive line in front of the Belgian will be much changed. With the new signings the backline could be, Carreras on the left, Antonio Rudiger and Huijsen in the central defense and Alexander-Arnold on the right. 

The midfield would likely be Jude Bellingham on the left, Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga in the middle and Fede Valverde on the right. 

Finally in the attack, it would a a partnership of Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappe up top in a front two.

On paper this could be arguably the best starting lineup in all of Europe. However games aren't played on paper, and while it may look like a deadly lineup, the real test of its effectiveness will come in this summer's FIFA Club World Cup when the players take the field together for the first time with the new signings and with a new coach at the helm.