Champions Real Madrid Ready to Forge Ahead With Current Roster

Real Madrid's Joselu, covered by his teammates, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Champions League semifinal second leg soccer match between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on May 8, 2024. AP Photo/Jose Breton

Reigning Champions League winner Real Madrid has boosted its roster with the additions of superstar striker Kylian Mbappe and Brazilian forward Endrick.

Now, the club will not add any more players this summer as it embarks on an American tour, according to manager Carlo Ancelotti.

“Mbappe has joined, which is fantastic,” Ancelotti said in his first press conference of the summer as the club prepares for a preseason tour of the United States. “As I said, we don’t have much time to prepare for the first few games but the players will come back in good shape.”

In addition to winning the Champions League, Real Madrid extended its record 36th La Liga title with 95 points from their 38 games, finishing 10 points ahead of second-place and archrival Barcelona. Los Blancos also won the Supercopa de Espana in January. Real Madrid had two losses across all competitions this season, both to Atletico Madrid.

Real Madrid considered several other players during the transfer window, including French center-back Leny Yoro, who signed with Manchester United in the English Premier League.

The club needed defenders after the departures of Nacho Fernández, who left for Saudi Pro League club Al-Qadsiah FC, and Rafa Marín, who signed with Napoli. However, Ancelotti is confident that Jesús Vallejo and David Alaba, who is recovering from a knee injury, can fill the void.

Ancelloti also expressed faith in the other defenders with the club.

“We have young center-backs who are training and have a lot of quality,” Ancelotti said at the press conference. “I believe we are well covered in this position.”

Real Madrid will also have to adapt to the loss of German midfielder Toni Kroos, who retired after this summer’s Euro 2024. Kroos helped the club win five UEFA Champions League titles in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022, and 2024, as well as four La Liga titles in 2017, 2020, 2022, and 2024.

“The absence of Kroos is a concern, but there are other resources,” Ancelloti said.

Ancelotti does not expect any more defections, with several other key players back in the lineup including Jude Bellingham, Vinícius Jr., Federico Valverde, Rodrygo, Eder Militao, Aurelien Tchouameni, and Eduardo Camavinga. All of those players are under the age of 30.

“No one will be leaving because everyone wants to stay,” he said.

The addition of Mbappe and Brazilian forward Endrick will soften the blow of losing Spain striker Joselu, who moved to Qatari side Al Gharafa.

Joselu started playing for Real Madrid in the academy in 2010 at the age of 20 when he joined Castilla, where he played for two seasons and was promoted to the Second Division in the 2011-2012 campaign. Joselu has made 49 appearances for Real Madrid in the 2023–2024 season, scoring 18 goals and winning three trophies in the Champions League, La Liga, and Spanish Super Cup.

Mbappe, 25, is widely regarded as the best player in the world and helped France win the 2018 World Cup when he scored four goals and was named Best Young Player of the Tournament as a 19-year-old. In the 2022 World Cup, Mbappe won the FIFA Men’s World Cup Golden Boot after his eight goals. France lost to Argentina in penalty kicks in the final but Mbappe scored all three of France’s goals in regulation and in extra time.

At the club level, Mbappe is Paris Saint-Germain FC’s all-time leading scorer, with 256 goals since he joined them from Monaco on an initial loan in 2017. He is expected to electrify Real Madrid’s attack.

Ancelotti is also excited about what Endrick will bring to the club.

“He’s very young and has impressive quality,” Ancelotti said at the press conference. “He’s powerful and very quick. He'll fit in with the team very well. I’m not going to ask too much of him because we have to keep in mind, especially in this first week, it’s been a very exciting time for him. He’s going to play 45 minutes tomorrow and we’re delighted he’s with us.”

Ancelotti is in charge of one of the most lucrative and successful sports franchises in the entire world. In the most recent Deloitte’s Football Money League 2024, Real Madrid had the highest revenues across the game over 2022–2023. Real Madrid is also the most valuable soccer club in the world, worth an estimated $6.6 billion, according to Forbes.

As a result, there is pressure from the fans to win titles each year.

Madrid’s marquee match summer tour is against FC Barcelona in the Clásico on Aug. 3 at Metlife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. Real Madrid ends the tour against Chelsea on Aug. 6 at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.