Real Madrid might be pivoting to a Xabi Alonso favorite on the market

Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso has three new signings to work with already in defenders Dean Huijsen and Trent Alexander-Arnold, as well as Argentinian phenom Franco Mastantuono in the playmaker role.

These are three potentially world-class signings, but they still don’t solve all the problems Real Madrid have after a poor summer 2024 transfer window in which Florentino Perez rested on his laurels with only Kylian Mbappe as an addition – and in the one area that wasn’t remotely a weakness.

Real Madrid still need midfield controllers and a No. 9 who can play a more traditional striker role to bring extra goals, but their biggest remaining weakness is easily at the left back position.

Ferland Mendy’s injury woes have caused a precipitous decline, while Fran Garcia has shown that he’s a step below what Real Madrid require at the position. Former academy player Alvaro Carreras has been viewed as the favorite to join the team at the position, but Real have found it very difficult to reasonably negotiate with Benfica.

A huge breakout under Xabi Alonso

The Portuguese giants already made sure that Carreras would not be able to join in time for the Club World Cup, and Benfica want an inflated 50 million euros fee for the young left back – about the same money Madrid paid for Mastantuono and Huijsen.

Now, according to a report from Cadena SER, Real Madrid are getting fed up with Benfica’s negotiation tactics and unwillingness to part ways with Carreras, and they are now shifting their attention to a new left back target, Alex Grimaldo.

The Spanish international has been arguably the highest-performing left back in world football since joining Bayer Leverkusen in 2023 as a free agent, where he blossomed as a real difference-maker under current Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso.

Grimaldo was a vital part of the Leverkusen side that went undefeated in 2023/24, posting a nasty 10 goals and 13 assists from the left back position. Last season, he was still effective for Leverkusen, too, with seven assists and well over two key passes per game.

Florentino Perez doesn’t get pushed around

With his ability to create chances and even score goals or assists from set pieces, Grimaldo is like having a playmaker at left back – a more mature version of what some Real Madrid fans had hoped Miguel Gutierrez would be when they watched him in 2021.

At 29 years old, Grimaldo has age against him, because Carreras, on the other hand, is on the rise at the age of 22. But that also means Grimaldo will be more reasonably priced, and he’s more ready to contribute as a top-class starter for Real Madrid, even if he isn’t a sure-fire defensive option.

The main thing is Alonso loves him, and Alonso will surely go to bat hard for Grimaldo. Real Madrid wanted Carreras over him, but if Benfica keep insisting on 50 million euros and dragging out the negotiations, Florentino Perez obviously isn’t the kind of guy who is going to get taken for a ride.

Real Madrid have a much better working relationship with Leverkusen, and so they can get Grimaldo for less money than Carreras and then go for a long-term option in 2026 if they want.