El Clasico Transfer Battle: Did Barcelona or Real Madrid Dominate This Summer's Market?
Barcelona and Real Madrid made waves during the summer transfer period, though not necessarily for positive reasons.
Spain's two most prominent clubs experienced relatively subdued summers compared to Premier League powerhouses. Barcelona managed to secure just three new signings before the window closed, while Real Madrid completed four acquisitions.
The fierce adversaries also parted ways with key personnel without bringing in replacements. Instead, they began their 2025–26 seasons depending on youth development and existing squad members to fill the gaps left by significant departures.
With anticipation building for the season's inaugural El Clásico, let's examine which team emerged victorious in the summer transfer market showdown between Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Barcelona's Summer Transfer Activity
Key Acquisitions
Facing continued financial constraints and registration challenges, Barcelona managed to bring in only three players before the transfer deadline. Joan García, Marcus Rashford, and Roony Bardghji all relocated to Catalonia to join the reigning Spanish titleholders.
García stands out as Barcelona's premier acquisition and ranks among La Liga's finest summer transfers. The 24-year-old goalkeeper delivered exceptional performances for Spain throughout the previous campaign, consistently starring between the posts for Espanyol. The Spanish shot-stopper wasted no time demonstrating his abilities for the Blaugrana; he nearly single-handedly prevented Barcelona from an embarrassing loss against Rayo Vallecano.
Rashford, however, has struggled to find his rhythm. The English winger joined to provide Barcelona with additional options on the left flank after unsuccessful pursuits of Nico Williams and Luis Díaz. Despite three outings thus far, the 27-year-old has yet to match the caliber of his attacking teammates.
The 19-year-old Bardghji remains without a Barcelona appearance after the club waited until the final day to complete registration for the former Copenhagen talent. The Swedish prospect shows promise and will provide cover for Lamine Yamal.
Notable Departures
Losing Iñigo Martínez dealt a severe setback to Barcelona. The center-back excelled during the Catalans' historic treble season, featuring in 46 matches across all tournaments.
Whenever Flick's team required a crucial defensive intervention or leadership in their defensive third, Martínez consistently delivered. Despite partnering with inexperienced teenager Pau Cubarsí, the seasoned defender rose to the occasion during Barcelona's most important fixtures, becoming an underappreciated hero among a roster filled with attacking stars.
Following Martínez's unexpected move to Al Nassr, Barcelona allowed two goals against promoted Levante and struggled in a disappointing 1–1 stalemate with Rayo Vallecano. Unable to secure a replacement, the club now lacks a natural left-footed central defender.
Barcelona also lost 19-year-old Héctor Fort and Clément Lenglet, further depleting their defensive options.
Real Madrid's Summer Business
Key Acquisitions
Real Madrid brought four fresh faces to the capital this summer. After allowing 83 goals across all competitions last term, Los Blancos recruited three defensive reinforcements: Dean Huijsen, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Álvaro Carreras.
These newcomers immediately secured starting positions under Alonso, contributing to Real Madrid's impressive start with two shutouts in their opening three fixtures. The La Liga runners-up conceded just once during their initial 270 minutes of the new season.
Huijsen provides intelligence and reliability at center-back with excellent ball-playing skills, while Carreras adds imagination and flair to Real Madrid's left side. Alexander-Arnold requires more time to settle with his new teammates but has already displayed moments of excellence at both ends of the field.
Real Madrid also acquired Franco Mastantuono from River Plate as their sole offensive addition. The 18-year-old has started two of the club's three La Liga encounters, demonstrating his natural talent when given opportunities. However, unlike Los Blancos' three defensive recruits, the Argentine needs considerable development before establishing himself as a regular starter at football's most prestigious club.
Notable Departures
Luka Modrić departed the Spanish capital after 13 seasons following the FIFA Club World Cup. The Croatian maestro is universally regarded as the finest midfielder in the club's history and among the greatest players to wear the famous white jersey.
The Ballon d'Or recipient would have remained at Real Madrid for another campaign, but the club chose not to extend his contract. Instead, they decided to create space for emerging talents like Mastantuono.
Modrić's exit created a significant void in Los Blancos' midfield, which Alonso expects Arda Güler to address. This places considerable responsibility on the 20-year-old, particularly when succeeding the most decorated player in Real Madrid's history. Additionally, Güler isn't naturally suited to central midfield duties.
Nevertheless, the Spanish giants felt confident proceeding without Modrić and Lucas Vázquez, who transferred to Bayer Leverkusen on a free transfer.
Barcelona vs. Real Madrid: Summer Transfer Window Victor
Following four losses to Barcelona last season, Real Madrid finally gained the upper hand over their eternal rivals. Los Blancos clearly dominated the summer transfer window from virtually every perspective.
The 15-time European champions completely reconstructed their weakened defense with both established and promising players. Real Madrid's glaring vulnerabilities from last season have already been addressed, even with Alexander-Arnold still adapting to peak form.
Furthermore, Alonso retained his most crucial players while Barcelona lost their defensive foundation. The Catalans also secured only one new regular starter in García, with Rashford and Bardghji filling backup roles.
Real Madrid surpassed Barcelona both theoretically and practically. There's a marked improvement in how Alonso's revamped squad performs compared to last season, while Flick's team has encountered early difficulties defending their title. Apart from their new goalkeeper's heroics, the Catalans have gained minimal benefit from their other two signings.
The campaign is lengthy, however, and the ultimate impact of the summer transfer window on the Spanish championship race remains to be determined.