Real Madrid has been dominating headlines this season, notably due to their acquisition of star midfielder Jude Bellingham last summer and the ongoing rumors surrounding a potential signing of Kylian Mbappe from Paris Saint-Germain. The anticipation among Madrid fans for the upcoming offseason is palpable, as it’s poised to be one of the club’s most active transfer periods in recent memory.
Speculation is running rampant regarding potential signings, with players like Mbappe, Bayern Munich’s Alphonso Davies, PSG’s Achraf Hakimi, and Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho all linked to a move to the Santiago Bernabeu. While rumors of Mbappe joining Real Madrid have circulated before, the club’s elite core of superstars makes it an attractive destination for top talent seeking to compete at the highest level.
Photo Cred: YouTube
Sitting comfortably atop LaLiga with an eight-point lead over second-placed Barcelona, Real Madrid’s success this season can be attributed in part to Jude Bellingham’s impact. His contributions, including a league-leading 16 goals and creative playmaking, have been instrumental to the team’s dominance in 2024. Paired with a world-class striker/winger like Mbappe, this team could boast one of the most formidable attacking lineups in soccer for years to come! It would be very reminiscent of their ‘Galacticos’ era.
The prospect of fielding a lineup featuring Brazil’s Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo on the wing, alongside Kylian Mbappe leading the attack, and Bellingham controlling the midfield is thrilling for the fans. Factor in the return of key players such as center-back Eder Militao and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, this club’s potential knows no bounds! Real Madrid could be on the brink of another era of dominance in European football with this exceptional combination of talent.
Photo Cred: OneSoccer
With all that said, here’s how I would predict the Real Madrid starting XI and bench to look like in summer 2024 (see cover photo. Graphic created by Sophia Kussel):
Formation: 4-3-3.
Goalkeeper and captain: Thibaut Courtois
Left back: Alphonso Davies
Center backs: Eder Militao, David Alaba
Right back: Achraf Hakimi
Midfield: Federico Valverde, Jude Bellingham, Toni Kroos
Forwards: Vinicius Jr. (left wing), Kylian Mbappe (striker), Rodrygo (right wing)
Initially, I predicted that Luka Modric would alternate with Kroos, but there’s a chance that Modric may be on the move, so I went with Kroos.
