Real Madrid step away from Konaté, lock in 2026 CB plan - Guehi, Schlotterbeck, Bastoni on radar

Real Madrid have stepped out of the Ibrahima Konaté chase and shifted focus to alternative centre-backs while maintaining a long-standing plan to add a marquee defender in 2026. Early names gaining traction include Marc Guehi, Nico Schlotterbeck and Alessandro Bastoni. The move aligns with Madrid’s squad mapping around Rüdiger, Militao and Alaba, ensuring depth without rushing into an overpay. Fan sentiment is split but energetic, with many pushing for Guehi’s athletic profile or Bastoni’s elite build-up. The direction is clear - build smart now, strike big in 2026.

The update emerges as Madrid re-evaluate market dynamics and pricing around elite centre-backs. With Antonio Rüdiger in peak form, Éder Militao back to full fitness and David Alaba managed carefully after a long layoff, the club is balancing short-term rotation needs with long-term planning. The leadership has mapped a 2026 centre-back signing to dovetail with succession planning and UEFA list management. Parallel scouting has intensified in England, Germany and Italy, where profiles like Marc Guehi, Nico Schlotterbeck and Alessandro Bastoni match tactical requirements for an aggressive high line, aerial security and clean build-up.

🚨 Real Madrid are now focusing on other targets after leaving the race for Ibrahima Konaté. The strategy has NOT changed, they’re expected to sign a CB in 2026. @FabrizioRomano

@MadridXtra

Impact Analysis

Madrid’s pivot has three immediate effects. First, it protects budget discipline. Walking away from a premium battle for Konaté avoids the classic late-window tax and keeps powder dry for a defined 2026 move. Second, it sharpens the profile search. Madrid want a defender who is secure in space, dominates the box and progresses play against mid blocks. Guehi’s 1v1 consistency in the Premier League, Schlotterbeck’s ball-carrying and diagonal distribution in a high line, and Bastoni’s elite left-footed build-up and back-three flexibility each tick different boxes. Third, it stabilizes the dressing room. Rüdiger’s leadership, Militao’s recovery arc and Alaba’s hybrid role mean the club can integrate a new piece without disrupting hierarchy.

Tactically, Ancelotti - and the succession plan on the bench - value defenders who can hold a 40-meter field behind an aggressive midfield. Guehi offers low-error defending and recovery speed. Schlotterbeck adds switch-of-play value that unlocks wingers early and invites Madrid to pin opponents. Bastoni, perhaps the cleanest on the ball, would improve exit patterns against pressing teams in the Champions League. Financially, each comes with a different deal structure: Premier League pricing for Guehi, Bundesliga negotiation room for Schlotterbeck, and a premium package for Bastoni due to Inter’s reliance on him. The strategy signals patience without passivity - scout, engage, then strike when leverage appears.

Reaction

Fan chatter reflects a clear split, but the energy is unmistakable. Many Madridistas are loudly in favor of Marc Guehi - the view is simple: proven in England, calm in chaos, and tailor-made for a backline that lives high. Others plead for a blockbuster like Alessandro Bastoni, arguing his left foot would instantly smooth Madrid’s build-up and open the left channel with surgical diagonals. A vocal group pushes for Nico Schlotterbeck, citing his comfort in a high line and passing range that mirrors Madrid’s game-state dominance.

There’s also a pragmatic camp: leaving Konaté to Liverpool is framed as smart business that avoids a premium for a player firmly settled at his club. A few caution that Madrid shouldn’t settle and must target the very best, but most agree the club is playing the long game. The recurring theme in comments is timing - fans accept a measured approach now if it ends in a statement signing in 2026. The mood: confident, a touch impatient, but trusting the board’s track record after a string of elite calls in the market.

Social reactions

True other players time

Kish❄️ (@Kishozzy)

Can we PLEASE sneak him in and sign him up with a CB 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

🇸🇩🐢 (@tales0fanobody)

Buy us bastoniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiuu

Southy (@_southy8)

Prediction

Three scenarios are on the table. Short term, Madrid open discreet channels for 2025 availability on Guehi and Schlotterbeck. If Crystal Palace soften near a premium valuation or Borussia Dortmund consider a strategic sale, Madrid pounce with a clean package and clear sporting guarantees. Medium term, Bastoni remains a watchlist case - any shift in Inter’s stance or contract dynamics could bring Madrid to the table, but it would require precision timing and a top-end bid.

The long-term spine points to 2026. Madrid aim to add a prime-age or late-young centre-back who can anchor the line for five to seven seasons, complementing Militao’s athleticism and Rüdiger’s leadership. Expect a data-led shortlist refreshed every six months, with medical and personality filters as strict as the technical ones. If market inflation spikes, Madrid will front-load add-ons and keep wages tiered to protect the dressing room ladder. My call: a disciplined 2025 move if valuation windows open - otherwise, the club holds the line and executes the 2026 masterplan with a near-certain starter profile.

Latest today

• Xabi Alonso holds Athens sit-down with Vinicius Jr and Fede Valverde to tighten squad bond
• Cristian Orozco spotted at Old Trafford - Manchester United line up next move as Wharton p...
• Ruben Amorim clarifies Kobbie Mainoo status as selection debate heats up at Man United
• Manchester United confident on Patrick Dorgu as January decision nears

Conclusion

This is not Madrid drifting - it is Madrid dictating terms. Exiting the Konaté race preserves flexibility and maintains negotiating leverage across three leagues. The scouting notes are aligned: Guehi brings reliability and recovery pace, Schlotterbeck adds distribution with edge, Bastoni offers left-sided control that upgrades the first pass and the second action. Any of the three would fit the tactical blueprint without breaking the wage structure or disrupting the current hierarchy.

The key is sequence. Strengthen smartly if the market blinks in 2025. If not, stay patient and land the centrepiece in 2026, exactly as planned. This front office has earned the right to be trusted - from timing marquee arrivals to integrating young starters without noise. Expect clear steps: tighten contact with targets’ camps, test valuations quietly, and be ready to accelerate when an opening appears. Madrid are on schedule, and the back line of the next cycle is being built with intent.