2026 begins, a year that will be decisive for many players in the Real Madrid depending on the performance they offer in the coming months (especially after the irregular 2025) but especially for three players whose contract ends on June 30. David Alaba, Antonio Rüdiger and Dani Carvajal They face the decisive stretch of the season with very different situations, although united by the same common thread: physical condition and the real impact they can have on a team that is playing for titles and also decisions for the future.
Praise, difficult future
The most complex case to stay is that of Alaba. The Austrian center back has not been able to regain continuity or sensations after a succession of muscular problems that have been chained season after season. It is not a specific injury, but rather a history that has conditioned his participation. and his role within the team. The coaching staff has had to dose him, wait for him and, in many moments, dispense with him out of pure precaution.
These physical problems have been weighing down Alaba for several seasons. The reality is stark and the numbers back it up. At 33 years old, the defender has only played four games this season. If the focus is broadened, in the last three seasons he has barely had 35 official matches. For a footballer called to be a defensive hierarchy, leadership and ball outlet, the lack of continuity has ended up marking his final stage in the club.
Except for a radical change in the scenario, Everything indicates that Alaba will say goodbye on June 30, 2026. Real Madrid needs reliability in a key area of the field and, as of today, the Austrian cannot guarantee it.
Rüdiger, everything open
Rüdiger’s situation is different. The German center back also had problems in the first part of the season, with knee discomfort and muscle episodes that limited his presence. However, unlike Alaba, his recovery has been progressive and effective. When Rüdiger is at one hundred percent, his weight in the team is still decisive.
The German continues to be vital for Real Madrid. His presence provides defensive aggressiveness, dominance of the aerial game and competitive character, aspects that the team has missed in times of difficulty. The problem is that sometimes that aura of “madness” that he has allowed to grow around him plays against him. You have to start controlling your reactions. If it is not right, it will be more difficult for them to understand each other,
Carvajal, with the ability to decide
In the case of Carvajal, the debate moves on another level. The club is clear about its position: it wants him to continue. He considers that, physically fit, he is an essential footballer, not only because of his performance on the right side, but for his ancestry in the locker room and his knowledge of the game. However, the last word will be the player himself, who must assess his physical condition, his future role and his motivation to continue competing at the highest level.
Injuries have repeatedly punished an area of the field that is already limited. Real Madrid faces this beginning of 2026 without Eder Militão, without Carvajal and also without Trent Alexander-Arnoldwhich drastically reduces defensive options. The accumulation of losses forces constant adjustments and increases the physical risk of the available players. Hence this summer, in the transfer market, strengthening the defense again could be key.
January will be a really demanding month for Real Madrid. The calendar gives no respite and the margin for error is narrowing. The Spanish Super Cup appears as an immediate objective, both for the title and for the emotional boost it can provide.
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