Iván Zamorano has backed Real Madrid to come back stronger next season, but only if the club fixes the balance of the squad and keeps building around Vinícius Júnior and Kylian Mbappé. He said Madrid have had two bad seasons, expects someone else to arrive after the World Cup, and wants a side that can fight for both La Liga and the Champions League.
Zamorano's case for a stronger Real Madrid
The former Madrid striker did not dress it up. Speaking to managingmadrid.com, Zamorano said he sees the club “with optimism next season” and believes the reinforcements already mentioned this year “seem interesting”. He added that Madrid have to build “a competitive team” and stressed that the standard at the club is still to compete for the league title and Europe’s top prize.
The numbers do at least explain why he is talking about a squad that needs sharpening rather than a rescue job. Real Madrid finished second in La Liga with 86 points from 38 matches, scored 77 goals and conceded 35, and won 27 of those 38 games. That is a strong base, but it also leaves room for the sort of upgrade Zamorano is asking for.
The names he would add
Zamorano's wishlist was not vague. He said: “I'd buy Olise tomorrow! And I'd play with Olise, Mbappé, Vinicius, and I'd bring in Enzo Fernández and put him in midfield.” He also said Madrid already have a right-back and a centre-back, which is why he sees the work as one of balance rather than a total rebuild.
The other part of his argument is his praise for Vinicius. Zamorano said the Brazilian has been Brazil’s standout player at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and has been carrying the team's weight completely. Vinicius has scored 4 goals in 4 World Cup appearances, a sharp enough return to match the confidence in the way Zamorano talks about him.
Olise also fits the picture Zamorano is drawing. Michael Olise has 5 assists in 4 World Cup appearances, while Enzo Fernández has a 7.1 rating in the same sample. Those are the kind of numbers that make sense if Madrid want more creativity and more control around their star forwards, rather than simply adding more names for the sake of it.
Zamorano's view is clear enough. Madrid already have the attacking core he wants, but he does not think that is enough on its own. The club still need reinforcements, and the next move he expects is another arrival after the World Cup.
Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
