Xabi Alonso Debuts Player Amid Real Madrid Preseason Progress

Real Madrid's 25/26 pre-season under coach Xabi Alonso is progressing well, with club executives pleased by the new pace he has introduced after a disappointing previous season. Alonso has requested the signing of a central defender and a creative, defensively-minded midfielder, with the latter seen as a near-impossible player to find, as he desires someone with his own footballing qualities. The club is confident about securing top central defenders as free agents for the next season, which would cover potential departures. Meanwhile, promising young player Thiago Pitarch impressed in preseason, scoring in a friendly match and earning Alonso's trust for future opportunities. The expected starting lineup for the new season includes established players like Courtois, Alexander-Arnold, Huijsen, Rudiger, Tchouaméni, Valverde, Arda Güler, Vinicius, and Mbappé, with uncertainty mainly around who will replace Bellingham and complete the midfield. Alonso's system choice will influence the final lineup, especially once the injured Englishman recovers, potentially filling a central midfield role.