The 2024/25 season has been a rollercoaster of emotions for Real Madrid. A team that began the campaign with sky-high expectations, boosted by the arrival of global superstar Kylian Mbappé, has ended up buried in frustration. Knocked out of the Champions League, out of contention in LaLiga, and unsuccessful in the Copa del Rey, Los Blancos can only cling to minor silverware like the UEFA Super Cup and the Intercontinental Cup.

Injuries to key players such as Éder Militão, David Alaba, and Dani Carvajal severely impacted the team’s structure. Compounding the issue was the club’s lack of activity in the transfer market: they focused solely on landing Mbappé and failed to strengthen crucial areas, particularly in defense and midfield. The departures of Nacho, Alaba’s slow recovery, and Leny Yoro’s refusal to sign (choosing Manchester United instead) left Carlo Ancelotti with few real solutions.

Florentino Under Fire and the Cost of Poor Decisions

The lack of strategic planning has taken its toll, and now criticism is being directed at players, coaching staff, and club president Florentino Pérez alike. By investing everything in Mbappé, Florentino neglected the squad’s balance—and it backfired. Ancelotti has also been criticized for his tactical rigidity and inability to adapt to the team's shortcomings.

The retirement of Toni Kroos, a club legend, left a void in midfield that was never properly filled. No replacement was brought in to lead the playmaking duties, and the team’s structure suffered as a result. Only academy graduate Asencio showed flashes of relief in a season marred by setbacks.

Now, all eyes are on the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup, set to be held in the United States from June 14 to July 13. Madrid has been drawn into Group H alongside Salzburg, Pachuca, and Al Hilal, and the tournament will be the team’s final chance to salvage some pride.

Jude Bellingham, one of Madrid’s standout performers, sees the tournament as more than just another competition. “It’s a chance to win a different kind of trophy—something this club hasn’t achieved yet. Being the first to do it would be historic,” said the Englishman in a FIFA interview. He also emphasized how special it will be to play in the U.S., where Real Madrid boasts a massive fanbase: “We see more and more fans during our preseason tours there every year. It’ll be incredible to feel that support in an official tournament.”

Bellingham stressed that, although Real Madrid has won almost everything, there’s always room for new history to be made: “There aren’t many things left to achieve at this club, and this is a chance we’re taking very seriously.”

This tournament will serve as a litmus test for the team’s character and a bridge toward the club’s rebuild. With new signings expected—such as Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dean Huijsen, Álvaro Carreras, and a still-unnamed playmaker—Real Madrid is determined to reclaim what it lost: its status as an undeniable favorite.