The start of Real Madrid's new era came with a painful defeat - but manager Xabi Alonso has the chance of a lifetime with his former club.

In response, club president Florentino Perez hired Alonso and sanctioned around €180million (£155m; $210.5m) to be spent on new players, including defenders Dean Huijsen, Alvaro Carreras and Trent Alexander-Arnold, along with exciting young Argentine playmaker Franco Mastantuono.

The 2025-26 La Liga season is here, as Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid are fighting to retake the division crown from Barcelona.

This article was originally published on www.si.com as The Bernabeu Beckons: Real Madrid Enter New Era Determined to Erase Summer Failure. Only 41 days stand between Real Madrid’s FIFA Club World Cup exit and the start of their 2025–26 La Liga campaign.

Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso has spoken out on Rodrygo's position in the Spanish capital after a summer of speculation over the Brazilian with the forward uncertain of a role this season

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