Grimaldo reveals Madrid pathway with Xabi Alonso as Real choose Álvaro Fernández Carreras

Alejandro Grimaldo has confirmed there was a genuine route to Real Madrid had Xabi Alonso taken charge, but the scenario shifted as Madrid moved for Álvaro Fernández Carreras at left-back. The revelation reignites a storyline that simply refuses to die: the Bernabéu still admires Grimaldo’s elite end product and tactical intelligence. With fan debate raging over Ferland Mendy and Fran García’s long-term roles, the timing feels perfect for Madrid to reassess. The message is clear: a Madrid-Grimaldo fit is natural, immediate, and game-tilting. If openings arise, expect Los Blancos to act decisively—this is a move that writes itself.

During a recent appearance on Spanish radio show El Larguero, Alejandro Grimaldo noted there had “always” been a pathway to Real Madrid tied to a potential Xabi Alonso scenario. Ultimately, Madrid opted to reinforce left-back with Álvaro Fernández Carreras. The discussion lands amid ongoing squad shaping at the Bernabéu, where Ferland Mendy and Fran García have rotated the role, and while Grimaldo continues to excel under Alonso at Bayer Leverkusen.

🗣️ Grimaldo: "Real Madrid? There was always the possibility of going to Madrid with Xabi Alonso, but in the end it didn't happen. They signed Álvaro Carreras." @ellarguero

@MadridXtra

Impact Analysis

From a squad-building lens, this development is a win-win for Real Madrid’s long-term planning. By securing Álvaro Fernández Carreras, they’ve added a young, ascending two-way full-back who can learn within a stable defensive framework while offering immediate depth. His athletic profile, quick recovery runs, and willingness to step into midfield lines align with modern demands in Carlo Ancelotti’s hybrid build-up.

However, Grimaldo remains a tactical cheat code. Under Xabi Alonso, he’s mastered the inverted full-back lane, arriving in the half-spaces to create overloads, deliver cut-backs, and unleash lethal set-pieces. Madrid have often used Ferland Mendy for defensive lockdowns and Fran García for vertical width; Grimaldo would fuse both dimensions with added chance creation. In tight Champions League knockout ties—where one precise cross or dead-ball decides everything—his value spikes.

Market-wise, his statement subtly reopens the door. If Madrid receive offers for Mendy or sanction a change behind Álvaro Fernández, they can move fast for a proven elite. For Leverkusen, it underlines their status as a talent hub—yet also the reality that sustained excellence draws Bernabéu attention. The immediate impact: Madrid have optionality and leverage; Grimaldo’s form keeps pressure on their competitors to fortify the left flank or risk falling behind.

Reaction

Fan chatter split along familiar lines. Madrid loyalists celebrated the club’s choice, praising Álvaro Fernández Carreras’ defensive reliability and rapid adaptation: “He’s been unreal in defense—exactly what we needed.” Others took the longer view, insisting “everyone wants to join us,” framing Grimaldo’s comments as validation of Madrid’s gravitational pull. A sizable camp, though, daydreamed openly: Grimaldo under Alonso at the Bernabéu—positional play, inverted lanes, and set-piece fireworks—“would’ve been something special.”

There was also opportunistic snark. A minority dismissed Grimaldo outright, swatting away his credentials with blunt put-downs. Pragmatists suggested a conditional swoop—“maybe if both Mendy and Fran García leave”—a sentiment that aligns with the club’s methodical, domino-style planning. Meanwhile, the usual brand pop-ins and off-topic riffs underscored the scale of the conversation; when Madrid’s left-back debate trends, everyone wants a slice of attention.

Netting out the noise, the community vibe is bullish: Álvaro Fernández looks like smart business, but the door for Grimaldo stays enticingly ajar. The imagination of a future Alonso–Grimaldo axis in white continues to fuel the timeline.

Social reactions

IM PAYING 5 GRANDS TO The First 10 People To Message Me "HARD TIMES" Cus I’m Blessed Being A millionaire

Shaqq Pope (@ShaqqPope)

Wished you came though but found peace with Carreras

💭 (@mr_realtwist)

He is good but he is 30, so glad we signed Carreras

AddgRMA 🐢🔜🤍 (@AddgRma)

Prediction

Short term: Real Madrid will stay the course with Álvaro Fernández Carreras, whose composure and defensive timing give Ancelotti a high-floor option. Expect minutes to rise in rotations and Copa/early Champions League phases, with Mendy deployed for lockdown assignments and García as a situational width provider.

Medium term: If Madrid receive strong bids for Mendy or reassess García’s ceiling, they will pivot aggressively. Grimaldo, battle-tested in Bundesliga and Europe, is the most plug-and-play solution on the market—no adaptation tax, immediate set-piece threat, and positional flexibility for interior build-ups. The logic is irresistible.

Long term: The Alonso variable lingers. Should coaching dynamics shift down the line, the Alonso–Grimaldo blueprint could accelerate a reunion at the Bernabéu. Even without Alonso, Grimaldo fits the club’s current footballing arc alongside ball-dominant stars like Bellingham and Mbappé. The most likely scenario over the next two windows: Madrid monitor, maintain contact, and strike if an exit channel opens at Leverkusen. The runway is there—and Madrid rarely miss when the path is this clear.

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Conclusion

Take the message at face value: Grimaldo to Madrid was real under one pathway, and Madrid chose a different route—Álvaro Fernández Carreras—for now. That doesn’t close the book; it simply updates the chapter. Madrid have insulated the position while keeping elite upside within reach. For all the noise, this is classic Bernabéu pragmatism: secure youth, sustain competition, and be ready to elevate when the perfect profile becomes available.

Grimaldo’s form under Alonso screams Madrid material—volume chance creation, dead-ball mastery, and tactical elasticity. If a left-back spot opens, this move writes itself. Until then, Álvaro Fernández gains invaluable reps, Mendy safeguards the big nights, and García remains a useful change-of-pace. Madrid’s left flank is stronger today than yesterday, and the ceiling remains tantalizingly higher if Grimaldo comes into play. Keep your eyes on the next two windows—the energy around this one hasn’t faded; it’s building.