Carlo Ancelotti's side have all the pieces in place to dominate yet again in the new campaign
How can Real Madrid actually improve? Los Blancos were the best team in Europe for most of last season, dominating Spain and securing an obligatory Champions League triumph with aplomb.
Well, they've done all of the right things to suggest that they could actually get better. In Kylian Mbappe, they finally got their man in the transfer market (albeit after years of waiting.) And even though a key player has retired, Los Blancos should have enough about them to run it back.
Should all else fail, they have arguably the best manager in the business to figure it all out. Be prepared for a growing pain or two, but this could be the best year in Madrid in a while.
GettyMood around the Santiago Bernabeu
It's excellent. Real Madrid were the best team in Europe last year – winning a Champions League and La Liga double – and appear to have improved. The arrival of Mbappe is massive for Los Blancos. There may be some growing pains, but he's still a top three player in the sport. He will bring goals in spades.
Even without him, this is a young exciting core that will only get better. Federico Valverde had a quietly masterful season last year, while Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga continued to improve. If they take another stride, then Real could be special.
Carlo Ancelotti is the perfect man at the helm in all of this. The Italian penned a new contract in the middle of last campaign, and seems set to be the ideal figurehead as this side continues to evolve. Prepare for yet another season of brash confidence from the most outspoken fanbase in football.
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Well, they wrapped up the big one – at a great price, too. Mbappe's arrival was rather delayed by Paris Saint-Germain's deep pockets, but it might just all be worth it given Los Blancos didn't have to pay a penny for him. He's supposedly on decent wages, too, and the signing bonus will raise some eyebrows (not just Ancelotti's).
But it hasn't all been smooth sailing. Real have reportedly shown interest in other targets – without much success. They joined half of Europe in the Leny Yoro sweepstakes before the centre-back chose Manchester United, proving unable to grant the teenager the playing time he wanted at a big club.
Talk about full-back acquisitions has also gone quiet. A Trent Alexander-Arnold move fell apart before it gathered any real momentum. Alphonso Davies' presumptive arrival is also in doubt – with Los Blancos likely having to wait 12 months before they can lure the Canadian to the Bernabeu.
Similarly, there remains interest in River Plate youngster Franco Mastantuono, but Madrid might not be too inclined to spend big on a player who won't have much of an impact this season.
Still, Mbappe's acquisition alone makes this summer nothing less than an overwhelming success in terms of incomings.
Joselu's has left the Bernabeu after he became a one-season cult hero, while stalwart Nacho has departed at the end of his contract, and Kroos, of course, has retired. Meanwhile, young centre-back Rafa Marin, 22, has been sold to Napoli.
AFPPre-season performances
If there are any concerns about this Madrid team – and there are admittedly few – they can be derived from what was an undeniably poor pre-season campaign.
Ancelotti gave all of his big names a month off, and Los Blancos' backups struggled as a result. Losses to Milan and Barcelona proved as points of annoyance, while there can't be much to take from a win over an admittedly miserable Chelsea side.
It wasn't the best slate for Real's backups, who struggled to find form. Brahim Diaz could have used the month-long tour of America to play his way into the picture, but failed to impress. Meanwhile, a 38-year-old Luka Modric certainly looked his age.
Perhaps most concerningly, though, was the poor form of Endrick. There will undoubtedly be massive pressure on the 18-year-old,€60 million (£50.7m/$65.2m) million price tag and all. He didn't really seize the moment this summer, failing to find the net off the back of a poor Copa America campaign.
Then again, the Super Cup showing against Atalanta…
GettyTalking tactics
Can anyone ever really doubt Ancelotti? There are a lot of questions to be asked here: how can you fit Vinicius and Mbappe into the same team? What will happen to Bellingham as a result? Does Rodrygo get any minutes?
Effectively, the manager has too many forwards, and not enough spots for them. The sexiest setup is a Vinicius-Mbappe-Rodrygo triumvirate, with Bellingham operating as an advanced midfielder.
That could work, but might lack the kind of defensive solidity that Ancelotti values. It was an interesting experiment against Atalanta – and ultimately it worked – but it remains to be seen how effective that is on bigger European nights. In those situations, Rodrygo might be left out, Bellingham plays as a No.10/false nine of sorts, with a workmanlike midfield keeping everything tidy.
And should it fail to pan out at first, Ancelotti will have few problems configuring a more reliable XI.