January 14, (THEWILL) – Real Madrid have dismissed manager Carlo Ancelotti’s requests for January transfer window reinforcements, despite ongoing concerns about squad depth and recent performance issues.
The Spanish giants currently occupy second position in La Liga, with their form drawing scrutiny following a substantial 5-2 defeat to Barcelona in the Super Cup final.
Their UEFA Champions League campaign has also faced difficulties, ranking 20th in the tournament standings.
Defensive vulnerabilities persist at the Santiago Bernabeu, with injuries to key players Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao impacting team selection.
David Alaba’s recent return to the substitute bench in the Super Cup final marked his first appearance since suffering an ACL injury in December 2023.
While Ancelotti has openly discussed his desire for winter additions to strengthen the squad, senior club officials maintain their stance against significant January investments.
The club’s last winter transfer involved Brazilian midfielder Reinier in 2020, purchased for £26m.
The Madrid hierarchy acknowledges the requirements for defensive reinforcements, specifically targeting a center-back and right-back position for the summer transfer period.
Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold remains a priority target, with Madrid exploring the possibility of acquiring him on a free transfer. However, attempts to negotiate an early cut-price transfer this winter were promptly rejected by Liverpool.
Despite summer additions of forwards Kylian Mbappe and Endrick bolstering their attacking options, Madrid’s overall performance has failed to meet expectations in the 2024/2025 campaign, leading to internal discussions about transfer strategy and squad management.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
