Real Madrid’s Future: A Youth Revolution Ahead of the 2025/26 Season
As Real Madrid prepares for the 2025/26 season, the club is set to undergo a significant transformation compared to just three years ago. Following key departures and the introduction of young talent, the average age of the squad has dropped dramatically from 28.2 years during the 2022/23 season to just 25.3. The club’s ambition is to bring this average down even further, aiming to settle below 25 years. This shift marks a notable paradigm change for an institution that has long celebrated its experienced stars such as Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, and Karim Benzema.
A Shift Towards Youth
Currently, players aged 30 and over are increasingly rare within the Real Madrid squad. Names like Thibaut Courtois, Dani Carvajal, Antonio Rüdiger, David Alaba, and Ferland Mendy, who turns 30 this month, no longer embody the future of the team. With the recent exits of Toni Kroos, Nacho, and Borja Mayoral, alongside the imminent departures of Luka Modric (39) and Lucas Vázquez (33), Real has embraced a younger leadership focused on the future.
This trend has gained momentum with recent signings such as Dean Houson (20) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (26). The club’s vision, helmed by President Florentino Pérez and scouting director Juni Calafat, is even broader, with four standout names on the planning table: Nico Paz (20), who could see Real exercise its buyback option on him; Spanish-Argentinian left-back Álvaro Carraz (22); German midfielder Angelo Stiller (24); and the promising German star Florian Wirtz (22), who is currently drawing interest from Liverpool.
Signing Young Talent Before Prstarts Soar
Real Madrid is acutely aware of the need to secure these talents before their prstart tags become prohibitive. Wirtz is particularly notable; he is already valued at over €100 million and investing in him at this stage is expected to yield significant returns. The remaining targets-Paz, Carraz, and Stiller-are all at critical development stages, aligning perfectly with Real Madrid’s strategic approach. Alongside these prospects, the squad includes recent additions like Arda Güler (20) and Endrick, who turns 19 next month.
Güler, expected to transition into a central midfield role, has influenced the club’s decision not to grant Modric an additional season. Carlo Ancelotti has expressed optimism about Güler’s future, stating, “I believe Arda will become a fantastic midfielder-he will be a very important player for Real Madrid’s future.”
Investing in the Youth Academy
Alongside international market moves, Real Madrid is also looking to its youth academy. This summer is set to act as an audition for many academy players, as Xabi Alonso plans to evaluate individuals like Jakub Ramón, Juan Martínez, and Diego Aguado to determine their fit for the first team.
The club’s bench is also embracing the youth movement. Xabi Alonso, at 43, replaces the 65-year-old Ancelotti, marking the youngest head coach to start a season with Real Madrid since Santiago Solari (42) during the 2018/19 season. However, Alonso’s appointment appears to be a calculated decision rather than a temporary necessity, underscoring a deeper rejuvenation at the club following his historic success with Bayer Leverkusen.
Preparing for a New Era
Whether through a new stadium, a revamped management structure, or a dynamic playing squad, Real Madrid is gearing up for a new decade. The future generation is already poised to take the helm, with the ambition for Real Madrid to maintain its dominance not just in nostalgic memories, but also in the years to come