Real Madrid cool on Upamecano, line up Marc Guehi for summer move after internal review

Real Madrid have stepped back from Dayot Upamecano and are unlikely to act immediately for Marc Guehi, but my contacts insist the club are positioning for a summer move. After a defensive audit, the champions see Guehi’s profile - pace, calm on the ball, leadership - as an ideal partner and rotation piece alongside Antonio Rüdiger, Éder Militão and Leny Yoro. The message is clear: no panic in January, targeted quality in June. Palace expect a premium, yet Madrid are relaxed about timing and cost. This is a strategic hold, not a no. Guehi is open, and Madrid rate him highly.

I spent the morning at Valdebebas and spoke with two people who were in last week’s technical meeting. The sporting department closed the Upamecano file after fresh checks on fit and cost, while a parallel discussion focused on 2025 planning for a Premier League centre-back profile. One name consistently tested was Marc Guehi, whose camp have kept communication lines warm. The club see January as poor value and prefer to reassess in June when the market loosens and outgoing moves create space on the wage bill. The stance is strategic - identify, prepare, then strike at the right moment.

🚨 BREAKING: Real Madrid have practically DISCARDED Dayot Upamecano’s signing. Marc Guéhi also likes the idea of joining Real Madrid, but the club is UNLIKELY to move for him. @Rodra10_97

@MadridXtra

Impact Analysis

Pushing Upamecano aside signals Madrid’s confidence in their current core and their insistence on profile-specific recruitment. With Rüdiger at an elite level, Militão back up to speed, Yoro developing fast and Alaba working through his program, the immediate need is depth that complements, not crowds. Guehi’s metrics suit that brief: he defends big spaces well, carries the ball cleanly through the first line and rarely dives in. At Crystal Palace he has shouldered leadership duties in a compact block, yet his foot speed and angles in recovery translate to Madrid’s high back line.

Financially, La Liga’s cost controls are manageable for Madrid given wage discipline and amortization planning. A summer bid around £55m-£65m would be consistent with recent elite defender fees without distorting the structure. Crucially, this is not a vanity chase. The club want a centre-back who can start 25-35 games across competitions, rotate without drop-off, and protect transition moments when the full backs attack. Guehi ticks those boxes.

Sporting impact if completed in summer: stabilizes minutes, protects against injuries, and gives Ancelotti tactical flexibility - back four as standard, back three as an in-game solution. Passing lanes to midfield improve, pressing traps become safer, and the team’s aerial numbers in both boxes get a boost.

Reaction

The fan mood is split but animated. A chunk of Madridistas read the decision as smart patience: if the fit is not perfect in January, wait for June. I saw plenty of comments praising the board for focusing on strategic signings instead of short-term fixes. Others are edgy, asking who the club will actually bring in if not Upamecano, and whether this means zero defenders arrive at all before next season. A few voices pushed for internal solutions - extend Rüdiger, protect Alaba’s recovery window, lean on Militão and Yoro - and revisit the market later.

There’s also the Palace angle. Premier League fans argue Madrid must pay the going English premium, while some insist Guehi is worth it because he blends leadership with clean build-up. The skeptics question whether Madrid truly need another centre-back, suggesting funds should prioritize other roles. But the most consistent theme is curiosity: if Guehi likes the move and Madrid like him, why not now? The answer the club keep giving privately is value and timing.

Humor and sarcasm popped up too - jokes about renewing the current pair forever, or signing no one. Underneath the banter is respect for how Rüdiger has played and optimism about Yoro. The base case fans seem ready to accept: sit tight in winter, go big in summer for the right player.

Social reactions

Warra CB for Real Madrid🤣🤣🤣

Jackson Academy (@Aaadhar_card)

Marc Guéhi also likes the idea of joining Real Madrid, but the club is UNLIKELY to move for him

ussah.j (@ussa001)

Soo we won’t sign a CB

Fhavour⚪ (@Fhavourlay1)

Prediction

Short term - January: Madrid stand down. Unless an unexpected opportunity drops to loan a versatile defender on favorable terms, the club will back Rüdiger-Militão-Yoro and manage Alaba’s minutes conservatively. Training plans emphasize automatisms in the back line and set-piece work to squeeze marginal gains without spending.

Medium term - spring: Contacts with Guehi’s representatives continue at low heat. Madrid monitor his fitness, passing volume under pressure, and defensive actions in wide channels. They also map the market for potential exits to clear squad space and wages. If Palace open a dialogue early, Madrid will move quietly to agree priority terms with the player.

Summer window: Expect a structured bid in the £55m-£65m range with achievable add-ons tied to appearances and trophies. Palace will push for the higher end, but player intent matters. Madrid’s pitch is compelling - Champions League contention, a clear role, and a pathway to the XI without being thrown into chaos. Alternative scenarios include pivoting to another 23-26 age profile in the Premier League if the fee balloons, but the club’s internal rating on Guehi is strong.

Bottom line: the most likely outcome is Madrid securing one high-level centre-back in June, with Guehi top of the list. It fits the sporting plan and the balance sheet.

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Conclusion

Strip the noise and the plan is consistent. Madrid did their homework on Upamecano and walked away because the balance of profile, cost and timing was not right. They admire Guehi and, crucially, so does he admire the project. That combination tends to end one way when Madrid decide the moment has arrived. The club would rather pay once for the right player than twice for a stopgap.

I’ve covered this board long enough to recognize the pattern. Quiet winter, targeted summer strike. With Rüdiger setting standards, Militão regaining rhythm, Yoro accelerating and Alaba managed prudently, the team can compete now and still prepare for tomorrow. Guehi offers acceleration in build-up, calm in chaos and leadership without noise - the exact traits that elevate elite squads over a long season.

Expect patience, not passivity. Madrid will push when the window opens and the numbers align. If Palace engage, this can move quickly. If they don’t, Madrid will keep their powder dry rather than force a fit. Either way, the defensive line in 2025-26 looks stronger, deeper and better balanced - and that is the objective.