Xabi holds a treasure

The new Real Madrid is up and running with one goal in mind: to reclaim LaLiga and the Champions League. And they’re doing it with a squad every coach would dream of. According to Transfermarkt, the Spanish giants have the most valuable team on the planet, with a market value of $1.606 billion, ahead of clubs like Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea, and PSG.

But there’s a catch: Xabi Alonso will only have 15 days to prepare his team before the LaLiga opener. With no summer tour, no time for experiments, and Madrid’s brutal heat pushing past 38°C, the new manager kicks off his first official preseason under intense scrutiny. Training began with medicals in the morning and a field session in the afternoon. Only three players were missing: Bellingham, Endrick, and Mendy, all injured, plus Mastantuono, who can’t join until August 14, when he turns 18.

A luxury squad

The Madrid locker room is stacked with stars: Bellingham, Mbappé, and Vinicius are among the five most valuable players in the world, while Valverde also ranks in the top 10. In total, the 25-man squad is worth $1.606 billion—a true treasure in Xabi Alonso’s hands. That’s not all: the club also invested $204.7 million in new signings this summer—Huijsen, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Álvaro Carreras, and the aforementioned Mastantuono, who has yet to be registered due to his age.

Real Madrid has gone all-in to avoid another year without major titles. This marks their largest investment in six years.

A rushed preseason

Talent isn’t the issue—time is. Madrid will only play one friendly before their official debut against Osasuna on August 19 at the Bernabéu. That match, set for next Tuesday against WSG Tirol in Austria, will be their only test run following a grueling 68-game season.

While Osasuna will arrive with six warm-up games and 40 days of prep, Madrid will have less than half of that. LaLiga and the RFEF denied Madrid’s request to delay their opener. So, no excuses: the road to the title starts now. And with the most valuable squad in world football, expectations couldn’t be higher.