With Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, and Jude Bellingham all commanding massive attention, it was natural to assume that Alonso’s project would be centered around one of them.

Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland could come together in the famous white shirt. But for that dream to come to life, Real Madrid may need to sacrifice two of their own brightest stars — Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo.

Currently under contract until June 2027, Vinicius cannot independently negotiate a departure before January of that year, and any discussions about his future must go through Real Madrid’s top leadership.

With the contract talks stalled, Real Madrid have reportedly identified the world-class star that would replace Vinicius Junior if he decides to leave.

Just as Real Madrid appeared to be solidifying their next generation of Galacticos, a dramatic twist has unsettled the balance at the Santiago Bernabeu.

While most assumed Vinicius would remain central to Madrid's long-term project, fresh tensions between the player and club have opened a door—one that Saudi Arabia is ready to push wide open with the biggest financial offer in soccer history.

Vinicius Jr.’s future at Real Madrid is more uncertain than ever. His recent poor form and reported tension with teammate Kylian Mbappé have put his contract extension in doubt.

The spotlight has fallen not just on the team’s lack of trophies but also on internal friction—most notably between Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr, two of the biggest stars in world soccer.

As heads dropped and questions mounted, the spotlight quickly turned to two of Real Madrid’s biggest stars—and how manager Xabi Alonso plans to respond.

As the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup reaches its climax with a blockbuster final between Chelsea and PSG, a curious question has emerged among fans and pundits alike: Why won’t we see a third-place showdown between Real Madrid and Fluminense?

Despite the humbling exit, Los Blancos didn’t walk away empty-handed. Quite the opposite—their tournament run yielded one of the most lucrative prize hauls in club soccer history.

With fierce competition from Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, and Vinicius Junior, one Real Madrid attacker has found himself on the fringes of Xabi Alonso’s plans.

A rising academy product has emerged, complicating matters for Xabi Alonso and possibly even Kylian Mbappe, whose return from illness coincides with the rise of an in-house prodigy.

With Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior far from their best level, Xabi Alonso praised Real Madrid's rising star in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025.

With a decisive goal from Gonzalo García, Real Madrid secured a 1–0 win over Juventus in the Round of 16, punching their ticket to the quarterfinals of the FIFA Club World Cup.