Real Madrid's 2025 summer transfer priorities: Endrick and Rodrygo need moving on to make room for teenage star Franco Mastantuono

It was a case of too many cooks in the kitchen for Madrid's attack last season, and while Rodrygo is a fine talent, he simply didn't fit in a team that already has too may left wingers. For all of the talk about how unselfish the Brazilian is, there remains the reality that Madrid need more width on the right. Rodrygo, who looks as if he's constantly trying to avoid drifting inside, can't provide that.

Things will only get more complicated if Alonso opts to go for the 3-4-2-1 system that served him so well at Bayer Leverkusen, as Rodrygo isn't a natural inside right forward, either, and seems an even poorer fit at that position.

An amicable exit seems the best solution for all parties here. The good news is that Rodrygo can fetch a handsome return, and there will certainly be some interested buyers. Arsenal have been linked, and the fit is obvious as they need to upgrade on the inconsistent Gabriel Martinelli. Madrid would demand heavy compensation, but this seems a pretty clear solution.

Let's make something absolutely, categorically, irrefutably clear: Real Madrid do not have to sell Vinicius, and it would be pretty foolish of them to shop him around. Vinicius is an elite footballer, a consistent Ballon d'Or contender, and arguably the best left winger in the world. Mbappe, though, is the most famous left winger in the world, and that trumps everything at Madrid.

Alonso will want to implement a clear style, and Mbappe isn't reliable enough through the middle, while Vinicius isn't versatile enough positionally. That leaves Madrid with two potential solutions: either find a system that consistently gets the best out of both players, or let Vinicius go while accepting that this is now Mbappe's team. They only have to look at PSG's Champions League win to see that modern football is about selflessness. You can make up for one reluctant presser; two is tricky.

But who can afford him? Madrid won't shop Vinicius around, but if rumoured Saudi Pro League interest crops up again, Los Blancos will have to think long and hard about it given they could demand an astronomical fee and reinvest it in the rest of the squad.

What is Endrick good at? Well, he runs a lot, is fast, powerful, and skilful with the ball at his feet. But he is also an immensely strange fit for high-level European football.

Right now, Endrick's best position is as a left inside forward without possessing the height to be a central striker. He has fine finishing instincts, and it is not hard to imagine him being a deadly presence for a team that likes to play on the break.

More than anything, though, Endrick needs minutes. The kid is 19. He needs to hone his craft, learn how to operate positionally, and figure out where he can best make an impact in a modern football team. That simply isn't possible at Madrid, who don't do charity projects or sympathy minutes. If you're good enough you play; if you're not, get ready to sit on the bench.

Endrick needs to be loaned out, plain and simple. With the right financial structure, he could be an excellent asset for a team who still play European football, but operate outside of the spotlight (are you listening, Real Betis?).

If things go well, and he develops, Madrid have a serious player on their hands. It's certainly a risk, but one worth taking on a youngster who needs to get reps.

The left-back situation at Real Madrid always felt a bit overblown. Between Eduardo Camavinga, Ferland Mendy and Fran Garcia, Los Blancos have three good options to rotate. Sure, none of them are world-class at the position, but with Vinicius in front of them, it was more about caution than virtuosic skill. Still, that doesn't appear to be enough for Florentino Perez and co.

Madrid are keen on Benfica's Alvaro Carreras, who would be an intriguing long-term solution. The 22-year-old impressed immensely at Benfica after being let go by Manchester United, and has the kind of physicality needed to play in an Alonso team. Whether he would slip right into the line up remains to be seen, but if Madrid want to think years down the line, he's certainly a fine option.

Madrid players were openly admitting last season that they missed Joselu. Yes, you read that right: Real Madrid, this wonderfully fluid attacking side packed with some of the most expensive footballers in the world, were longing for a middle aged Spaniard who was struggling to score for Stoke City just a few years ago.

And while Joselu probably wouldn't have solved all of Madrid's many problems last term, the reality is that they do need a proper No.9 to at least bring off the bench. Alonso's system needs to have a clear focal point, a central figure for everyone else to buzz around.

The ideal profile would be that of Patrik Schick. The Czechia international scored 21 goals under Alonso for Leverkusen last season, has the right physical profile, and is more mobile than a lot of strikers of his size. At 29, he's not necessarily a long-term buy, but Madrid need both a break-glass-in-case-of-emergency striker and shrewd tactical fit.

One way for Real Madrid to immediately get one over new European champions PSG would be to pip them to signing one of world football's brightest teenage talents. Franco Mastantuono has gained plenty of admirers for his displays with River Plate since breaking into the Argentine giants' first team, and it was being reported before the Champions League final that PSG were at the front of the queue in terms of bringing him to Europe.

Madrid, however, are now plotting their own move for the recent Albiceleste call-up, and believe the 17-year-old would prefer a move to Santiago Bernabeu over a switch to Parc des Princes. His $45 million (£33m) release clause is more than affordable, and while Madrid don't necessarily need his box-to-box profile immediately, there is no doubting Mastantuono's elite talent and that he could be very special in the not-too-distant future.

If Madrid can't make that move happen, they do have an intriguing buy-back option on Nico Paz. The midfielder played sparingly in the 2023-24 campaign, but came into his own after joining Como last summer as he learned under Cesc Fabregas. Paz has a similar build to Mastantuono but is more of a creative midfield presence, and at 20 is more of a sure thing to reinforce Madrid's line up right away. That may be what Alonso needs.