Madrid’s Winter Silence: Real Madrid’s Seven-Year No-Winter-Deal Challenge
3 February 2026
Injuries did not force changes in the mercato this winter.
Background
The January transfer window closed for the 2025-2026 season, and Real Madrid again missed a chance to strengthen, a rarity for the Spanish powerhouse.
Spanish newspaper Marca notes that the club has not signed a winter player in seven years; the last mid-season arrival was Brahim Diaz, who joined from Manchester City for 17 million euros.
Unlike rivals such as Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, which expanded activity around domestic competition, or Manchester City, which invested around 100 million euros in two high-profile additions, Real Madrid stayed away from the winter market and trusted the depth of the current squad.
That stance persisted even as injuries piled up in recent seasons, and this campaign was no different, with three midfielders pressed into central defense for a clash with Rayo Vallecano.
Management asserts the group’s depth should suffice to chase the club’s main objectives: La Liga and the Champions League, despite a disappointing showing in the Spanish Super Cup and an early exit from the Copa del Rey.
To cope with injuries, Real Madrid reorganized the medical team, appointing Nico Mihich to lead the medical department and Antonio Pintus to head conditioning, moves tied to the departure of Xabi Alonso earlier in the year.
This season the club lists 23 registered professionals, one under the limit, with Brahim Diaz’s promotion from Castilla after a standout World Cup performance, plus four signings in the previous summer.
Marca reports the board believes this group is sufficient, occasionally tapping Castilla players, and choosing to trim the squad rather than expand it. The proposed summer move for Fran Garcia to Bournemouth did not materialize, while options at left-back such as Carrera, Mendí, and Camavinga filled the gap, including in the recent match against Vallecano.
Bottom line: Real Madrid values depth over panic buys, and their magic trick is keeping injuries off the marquee while the trophies keep rolling in. Punchline 1: If depth were a commodity, Madrid would own the warehouse. Punchline 2: They don’t sign players in January because their calendar already has enough plot twists to last a season.
