Real Madrid are set to play their La Liga opener against Osasuna at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday. Los Blancos have an idea of their squad for this season after presenting their fourth signing earlier this week in Franco Mastantuono.

The transfer window closes on September 1, and the club could still potentially bring in another player or sell another player. Reports in Spain suggest the club is already planning its squad building for next season, as two players’ contracts will expire next summer.

The club is reportedly planning ahead for next year as Real Madrid targets new defenders like Ibrahima Konate. Diario AS reports that Real Madrid is not planning to renew the contracts of Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba.

Both Alaba and Rudiger will become free agents in the summer of 2026 unless Real Madrid offers them a new contract. They will need a great season to change Real Madrid’s position in letting them go next year.

Despite the new season just beginning in a few days, reports in Spain suggest that Xabi Alonso has already decided what the defense would look like for the majority of the season, risking Alaba and Rudiger’s future at the club.

Real Madrid’s preferred center-back duo

According to Diario AS, Real Madrid are impressed with the return of Eder Militao. The Brazilian defender has impressed in Real Madrid’s recent preseason games. Militao suffered an ACL injury last November, which kept him out for the rest of the 2024-25 season.

His return has surprised Real Madrid, and his form has improved. The club reportedly wants Xabi Alonso to play Militao and Dean Huijsen as the main center-back duo for the majority of games this season.

Huijsen also impressed Real Madrid and their fans during the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup this summer. Real Madrid is excited to see the two defenders together after the great praise the Brazilian defender has received.