Xabi Alonso looks at the data and talks to Florentino, he's the next signing: 'Presi...'

Real Madrid is moving forward with the process of remodeling Santiago Bernabéu locker room. The implementation of the generational change has returned to the forefront after a 24/25 season to forget in most areas. Even the elimination from the Club World Cup, with the heavy defeat against PSG, has fueled rumors about signings.

One of the areas of the squad where the most effort seems to have been focused is the center of defense. The very poor performances by Raúl Asencio and Antonio Rüdiger during the Club World Cup, leaving only Dean Huijsen as a reliable center-back for Xabi Alonso, are worrying the club's top brass. That's why they've decided to try to sign another center-back.

The club's sporting management had already devised a plan to secure the services of two more center-backs, in the summer of 2026 and summer of 2027: Ibrahima Konaté and William Saliba. The urgency to add a player to that spot in the first team, however, has brought the possibility of Konaté, from Liverpool, arriving in the Spanish capital much sooner.

The performance of the "5" red in recent months is now becoming increasingly relevant because Konaté seems to look favorably on a move to the club. That decision is not well received by the Merseyside-based club, which is trying to prevent the move with a contract renewal, rejected for now.

Ideal player for the team

Ibrahima Konaté's arrival would give Real Madrid more power in the air: after all, the French defender is 6 ft. 4 in. tall (1.94 meters). Alongside Dean Huijsen, also close to 6 ft. 7 in. (2 meters) tall, Xabi Alonso could build a practically unbreakable wall: the percentages of aerial duels won speak for themselves.

The Liverpool defender won 71.3% of all those occasions, a percentage much higher than Militão's 60% and Rüdiger's 58%. Only David Alaba can surpass Ibrahima Konaté, thanks to victories achieved in 71.4% of aerial duels... but the Austrian "4" has slowly lost his prominence in the first team due to all his physical difficulties in recent months.

Ibrahima Konaté has managed, during the 24/25 season with Liverpool, to be one of the pillars of the build-up play designed by Arne Slot. With a 94.3% success rate in short passes, 94.4% in medium-range passes, and a 60.7% rate in long balls, he is undisputed for the Dutch coach. He can also play in a back four or adapt to a three-center-back system, as he showed during his years at RB Leipzig.

That's why Xabi Alonso has been very clear: "Presi, if Konaté arrives, we've got a center-back for many years". The Tolosa coach arrived at Real Madrid with several signing requests, among which was a center-back: Dean Huijsen fulfilled those requirements. But the Club World Cup, with the doubts about Asencio, Rüdiger, and Militão, has revived that need: Ibrahima Konaté is the player who seems best positioned to fill that vacancy.