Alonso offers reassurance to injured Real Madrid midfielder – ‘By 2026, you will be…’ | OneFootball

According to a report from Defensa Central, Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso has personally reassured Eduardo Camavinga that his role at the club will change dramatically in the new year.

Camavinga is fully aware that 2026 represents a defining chapter in his Real Madrid career. For him, it is no longer a season of development or rotation, but one of clarity. 

It will either be the year he establishes himself as a pillar of the team or risks stagnation. Alonso has already made his position clear that Camavinga is central to his vision.

Xabi Alonso’s promise

The Real Madrid coach believes the team functions at its best when Camavinga operates alongside Aurelien Tchouameni. 

That belief was reinforced by the system used against Athletic Club, a blueprint Alonso wants to carry into the new year and repeat consistently.

Internally, the message to Camavinga could not be stronger. 

As the outlet reports, “Forget the bench, by 2026 you will be an undisputed starter,” is the clear idea Alonso has in mind. 

Camavinga will be a regular starter in 2026. (Photo by Ion Alcoba Beitia/Getty Images)

That assurance has already been communicated to the player.

The impact of Camavinga’s presence was evident even in limited minutes. Against Sevilla, the French midfielder needed just 18 minutes to show why Alonso values him so highly. 

A year of relevance

Looking ahead to 2026, Alonso’s intention is clear that if Camavinga stays fit, he will be a regular starter, not a rotational option. This vision, however, will have consequences elsewhere in the squad. 

For the Spanish Super Cup, the debate is no longer whether Camavinga will play, but who will play alongside him. 

Tchouameni is considered a guaranteed starter, while Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr., and Jude Bellingham are viewed as non-negotiable.

That leaves just one remaining spot, likely to be contested between Arda Guler, Rodrygo, and Federico Valverde.