Much of the Real Madrid discourse over the summer surrounded Trent Alexander-Arnold.
The England international departed Liverpool for Spain earlier this year to the chagrin of Reds fans. Alexander-Arnold was arguably the high-profile signing Los Blancos made over the summer.
In this article, we’ll cover the performances of:
That’s not to say Real Madrid weren’t active in the market. Dean Huijsen, Alvaro Carreras and Franco Mastantuono all made the move to sunny Spain this year. Yet as Alexander-Arnold struggles, his fellow new arrivals are playing starring roles for Xabi Alonso’s side. Real Madrid sit top of La Liga after eight games, winning seven, and the trio are shining under Alonso.
At just 20, 22 and 18 years of age, respectively, it’s a running theme that the youngsters are helping to usher in a new era at the Bernabeu. Factor in Arda Guler’s rise to key player, and it’s clear Alonso is placing huge faith in the stars of tomorrow, today. That’s not to say the established players aren’t playing their part.
Kylian Mbappe has scored more goals (9) than any other player in La Liga this season, while Vinicius Junior has been directly involved in nine goals. Only Mbappe (11) has done so more. Yet Real Madrid have witnessed the benefits of investing in youth in the opening weeks of the campaign.
Arda Guler
It’s a familiar face to the Real Madrid faithful that has played a starring role in the opening weeks. Arda Guler joined from Fenerbahce in 2023 yet struggled for rhythm under Carlo Ancelotti. While the Turkey international made 14 league starts last season, the Italian relied heavily on his tried and tested personnel.
One of those was Jude Bellingham, who missed the opening weeks of the season following shoulder surgery. His absence, though, handed Guler the chance to consolidate his starting spot. To say he grabbed it with both hands would be an understatement.
Many expected Alonso to implement a three-man backline following his Real Madrid appointment but he’s instead opted for a 4-2-3-1. It’s in the 10 role behind Mbappe where Guler has thrived. Across the opening eight appearances, Guler has three goals and three assists to his name. All three assists have been for Mbappe.
Everything now goes through Guler, whose chances created per 90 minutes has increased from 2.8 to 3.6. 22 chances created in total is the most in La Liga. The 20-year-old has gone from disposable to undroppable under Alonso. Good luck reclaiming your starting spot, Jude…
Franco Mastantuono
Few, if any, expected Franco Mastantuono to immediately make his mark in the Real Madrid setup. The 18-year-old joined in August, after becoming the youngest player in River Plate history to have scored in the Superclasico as he found the top corner with a sumptuous free-kick.
The pressure was on from the outset as Real Madrid triggered the teenager’s €45m release clause. Even so, the Argentine joined as a player for the future rather than the here and now. And yet, Mastantuono has taken to life in a high-pressure environment in his stride.
The attacker has started five of eight league games, and featured off the bench in a further two, with Alonso favouring Mastantuono over experienced heads Rodrygo and Brahim Diaz on the right. There are lessons still be learned from Mastantuono yet to already be first choice on the right wing is a huge achievement.
Dean Huijsen
Why Juventus let Dean Huijsen leave is a mystery. Happy to sell to Bournemouth last summer, the centre-back capitalised upon a Marco Senesi injury to become a Cherries mainstay. And his south coast showings didn’t go unnoticed as Real Madrid spent big to sign Huijsen last year.
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The Spaniard’s biggest strength is his distribution. As such, it shouldn’t come as a surprise he ranks second for passes (454) of La Liga centre-backs this season. This is key for a Real Madrid side that is second for possession (62.7%) and top for pass accuracy (90.2%) in Spain’s top tier.
The 20-year-old may have already received two red cards in his Los Blancos career to date but that shouldn’t detract from his early showings. Huijsen has quickly forged an impressive defensive partnership with Eder Militao, which means Real Madrid have conceded just nine league goals so far.
Alvaro Carreras
Another former Manchester United player excelling elsewhere. It was with Benfica where Alvaro Carreras showcased his talent. The 22-year-old established himself as one of the best left-backs in Europe with the Portuguese side, prompting Real Madrid to splash the cash to sign the Spaniard.
With left-back something of a problem position last season, Carreras has nailed down his role in the side. Like Huijsen, Carreras is instrumental in Real Madrid’s early season dominance. Indeed, only Pedri (690) has completed more passes than the youngster (512) in the 2025-26 La Liga campaign.
Furthermore, this is a Real Madrid side that favours to attack down the left through Vinicius Junior. With that, Carreras is needed to provide the solid safety net to support the Brazilian. He does so well having won possession in the defensive third the fourth most times (29) in La Liga. That Real Madrid rank high for possession serves to highlight his effectiveness in granting Vinicius Jr the license to attack.