Real Madrid's Strategic Summer Acquisition Fills the Void Left by Jude Bellingham's Injury Layoff
Real Madrid faces mounting pressure to achieve success in the absence of Jude Bellingham, who has undergone successful surgical intervention to address his shoulder dislocation.
This marks the first occasion since Bellingham's arrival in the Spanish capital that the England midfielder confronts an extended period away from action. Following two seasons of competing with a problematic shoulder, the 22-year-old has finally received surgical treatment for the injury sustained in November 2023.
The operation is anticipated to sideline Bellingham for as long as three months, meaning Real Madrid will be without their number 10 for the commencement of the 2025–26 La Liga campaign and the opening stages of their Champions League journey.
Finding a substitute for the midfielder presents a significant challenge for Los Blancos; Bellingham's inventiveness, energy and tactical awareness in attacking areas makes him irreplaceable within Real Madrid's squad. Nevertheless, Xabi Alonso must find ways to compensate for his star player, potentially through two emerging talents eager to make their mark in the upcoming campaign.
Franco Mastantuono Could Step Right Into Bellingham's Role
The most logical successor to Bellingham is 17-year-old Franco Mastantuono. Real Madrid outmaneuvered Paris Saint-Germain to secure the promising Argentine's signature in June from River Plate, with his Madrid arrival scheduled for August when he reaches 18.
While Mastantuono primarily operated as a winger during his River Plate tenure, the youngster also possesses considerable ability as a number 10. Indeed, during this summer's FIFA Club World Cup, he proved more effective when moving into central positions rather than remaining on the right flank.
Across his 64 matches for the Argentine club, Mastantuono contributed 10 goals and seven assists. Eleven of those goal involvements occurred in 2025 alone. Surrounded by world-class teammates at Madrid, Mastantuono's output could multiply dramatically given appropriate chances.
Alonso may hesitate to immediately insert the prospect into Real Madrid's starting lineup upon his arrival, but the new coach might lack alternatives; Los Blancos require a creative force operating behind Vinícius Júnior and Kylian Mbappé.
Arda Guler Is Ready to Take the Next Step
Another possibility for Alonso is Arda Güler. The Turkish international has already become central to Real Madrid's plans under their new coach; Güler featured in the starting eleven for five of Real Madrid's six Club World Cup fixtures.
The 20-year-old possesses the ability to operate effectively as the team's number 10. He has previous experience in this role, including recently partnering with Bellingham in Real Madrid's 3–1 triumph against Pachuca.
Güler's left-footed delivery makes him an ideal candidate to provide Los Blancos' forward line with precise service from various positions across the field. Under Alonso's guidance, the Champions League victor has already registered one goal and two assists.
However, there exists one significant issue with deploying Güler as a number 10—his contributions as a central midfielder are essential. Despite his effectiveness on the right wing or in advanced midfield roles, Güler performs optimally when heavily involved in play, orchestrating Real Madrid's midfield operations.
Xabi Alonso Could Experiment with Different Formations
Should Alonso prefer to restrict Mastantuono's immediate involvement and maintain Güler in Real Madrid's midfield core, the manager might choose to include an additional central midfielder in his starting eleven rather than deploying a number 10. Los Blancos appeared most effective this summer utilizing a 3-5-2 formation, featuring a midfield trio of Güler, Fede Valverde and Bellingham.
Alonso could reintegrate Eduardo Camavinga, who was absent from the Club World Cup due to injury, into his midfield to address the void created by Bellingham's absence. Aurélien Tchouaméni represents the more apparent selection to partner Güler and Valverde, though the French player might again find himself deployed as a center-back in Alonso's three-man defense.
The former Bayer Leverkusen manager could alternatively implement a 3-4-3 or 4-3-3 system, allowing Güler, Mastantuono or Rodrygo to occupy the right wing position to enhance his formation's attacking threat.
Regardless of Alonso's ultimate decision, Real Madrid's starting eleven will contain a significant gap that could potentially impact their early-season performance.