Real Madrid Strengthens Squad Under Xabi Alonso With Mbappe, Garcia Boost

Real Madrid's new coach Xabi Alonso has quickly established a strong presence in the squad by enforcing a merit-based selection policy, exemplified by his controversial decision to substitute Vinicius Jr., signaling that no player is guaranteed a spot regardless of reputation. Alonso's approach includes managing player workload more carefully to avoid injuries and fatigue that affected the team last season, with increased squad rotation to give opportunities to more players. Young talents like Gonzalo Garcia from the La Fabrica academy have thrived under Alonso's guidance, earning first-team roles and contracts, while expressing ambitions to represent Spain in the 2026 World Cup. Meanwhile, Kylian Mbappe, now a year into his Real Madrid tenure, has shown remarkable improvement, returning from the off-season stronger and more confident, reflected in a prolific start to the 2025/26 season including goals for both club and country. At Manchester United, the club has strengthened its defense by signing Belgian goalkeeper Senne Lammens, who aims to be a reliable and calm presence at the back, addressing defensive instability seen in the early season. Lammens emphasizes the importance of being a dependable figure for his teammates and is focused on continuous improvement to succeed in the Premier League.