Madrid's Summer First Move: Nico Baz Set for a Real Return, But Defense Still Has Homework

First Summer Move: A Return on the Cards

Real Madrid has laid out plans to bring back Argentine star Nico Baz to the royal fold, sealing the club’s first move of the upcoming summer window after the player gave the green light to join at season’s end.

Renowned Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano confirms Madrid has decided to reinstate Baz, a move hinted since the season’s start, with the return expected in the summer rather than in winter as had been claimed.

The decision comes as Baz has shone with Como this term, leading the midfield brilliantly, scoring five goals and creating four more in just 12 starts, prompting the club to believe his return could help Madrid navigate a mid-season hurdle.

Madrid holds a buy-back clause in Baz’s contract allowing a return for a fixed fee, estimated at about eight million euros last summer and set at nine million this season, a clause active only in June, ruling out a winter move.

While Baz has given his consent to join, Como wants to keep him until season’s end, making any early move unlikely, with the deal ready to be executed as soon as the window opens in summer, marking Madrid’s first signing for next season.

Youth Strategy

Over the past years, Madrid has clearly shifted its transfer philosophy toward young talents rather than relying on established stars, moving away from the Galacticos era. The strategy aims to build a sustainable project both on the pitch and financially, ensuring long-term stability.

The club has invested heavily in promising talents from around the world, focusing on players with high technical potential and room to grow within the club. In recent seasons, Madrid has added Vinícius Júnior, Rodrygo Goes, and Endrick from Brazil, plus Camavinga and Tchouaméni from France, all now core members of the first team.

Besides, Madrid has focused on developing academy players and monitoring loanees who gain experience in European leagues. The model has proven successful by balancing high performance with financial sustainability, keeping the budget in check.

The club also emphasizes intergenerational harmony, guiding the current cohort of youngsters with veterans like Antonio Rüdiger and Dani Carvajal to ensure a smooth leadership transition. Madrid is not only chasing titles but also securing a future for the next decade with a plan to cultivate stars in-house.

Defensive Crisis

Madrid is in a delicate defensive phase, with numbers backing the feeling that the team, under Xabi Alonso, has lost some of the solidity that opened the season strongly.

The 2-2 draw with Elche at Martínez Valero highlighted a worrying trend, with pressure increasing after losses of possession, something opponents are exploiting cleverly.

The last three matches have produced two draws and a defeat, underscoring the defensive slide.

Even though the total goals conceded isn’t astronomical, the problem runs deeper. The team concedes more chances, presses less aggressively, and leans too heavily on Courtois to bail them out.

TACTICAL TRICK

Against Elche, Alonso seemed to toy with a five-man back line, with some players pushed forward as makeshift wing-backs. The plan, however, quickly reverted to the familiar four-man defense, and the shift failed to stop the slide.

Alexander-Arnold appeared in his natural role at right-back while Fran García experimented on the left, trying to emulate Vinícius’ menace without his pace or flair. The formation settled at 4-2-3-1, but it did little to blunt the defensive leak.

Injuries plagued the back line too: Militao picked up a fresh injury with Brazil, and several others were unavailable, leaving the defense vulnerable. Madrid’s reports note that the club has grown accustomed to dealing with dips, but the present stretch is more alarming than usual.

The bottom line is that the team concedes more chances, presses less aggressively, and relies too much on Courtois to rescue results.

Punchline 1: Real Madrid’s defense is so porous, even a sniper would need a raincoat to keep the bullets dry.

Punchline 2: If this backline were a sniper, its bullets would be aimed at the snack bar—classic case of missing the target and still hitting the hype.