Real Madrid’s next steps: Kylian Mbappe’s arrival kicks off a new Galacticos era for Champions League winners

Real Madrid confirmed their 15th UEFA Champions League title thanks to Dani Carvajal and Vinicius Junior score goals in the 2-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund at Wembley on Saturday. Now that the Spanish giants’ latest continental triumph has been confirmed, Kylian Mbappe’s signing came less than 48 hours after Monday’s announcement by the Spanish and European holders.

The French superstar has been confirmed as the La Liga giants’ latest big-name signing on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain with a brief statement confirming his arrival on a five-year contract, but Mbappe will not be the only change to this team. Dortmund exposed vulnerabilities that Real had had all season, but the dominant force in European football still emerged victorious in the end.

With Mbappe and Endrick arriving at the Santiago Bernabeu and other potential new faces such as Leny Yoro also linked to Real, the curtain has fallen on Kroos and he could do the same with captain Nacho Fernandez. Kepa Arrizabalaga’s loan has come to an end and he will return to Chelsea with minimal impact, as well as confirming Andriy Lunin’s reserve status.

The Ukraine international is expected to extend his contract to remain at Los Merengues alongside Luka Modric, while Lucas Vazquez is also potentially penning a short-term extension as Ancelotti rebuilds certain areas of this current group. Rodrygo will logically drop into a squad role after a subdued match against Dortmund, while semi-final hero Joselu is only on loan from Espanyol.

Most impressive perhaps is the number of regular starters who should be back to full fitness next season: Thibaut Courtois is again a UCL winner after his last clean sheet in a final, but there are Eder Militão and David Alaba to be reckoned with. considered. Factor in precocious young talent Arda Guler and that’s effectively four better than new signings besides Mbappe and Endrick for Ancelotti to work with.

Kroos will leave a substantial hole in the middle, but Modric’s declaration that he will remain alleviates the immediate impact of this defeat, both from a technical and leadership perspective. Elsewhere, Nacho wouldn’t have played as much if Militão and Alaba weren’t seriously injured and Lunin might be packing his bags if he hadn’t impressed in Courtois’ absence before Kepa.

Rodrygo may be the one to keep an eye on Mbappe’s arrival, but there is no guarantee how Ancelotti will decide to move forward with the France captain until next season. There are different variations of how Real could field Vini Jr. and Bellingham with Mbappe and Rodrygo, but it’s likely that someone won’t be entirely happy.

However, that promises to be the issue for the next campaign, with now a time for collective and personal celebration as Real and Ancelotti write more history in the books of Spanish and European kings, despite it feeling like just another day at the office. Perhaps this is the scariest prospect of all: Mbappé joining a team he already effortlessly dominates without him.

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