Dani Carvajal will leave Real Madrid this summer, creating an urgent leadership and right-back vacancy at the club. With José Mourinho set to take charge and the squad light on specialist options, Madrid are weighing six realistic targets — from Benfica’s Amar Dedic to Manchester United’s Diogo Dalot — to replace a club legend and shore up the flank for next season.
Carvajal’s exit: immediate problem, long-term ripple
Dani Carvajal departing Real Madrid closes an era. The 34-year-old leaves with an unrivalled Champions League résumé and a leadership void that goes beyond the shirt number. Madrid must replace experience, tactical intelligence and set-piece familiarity while also addressing the simple, practical need for right-back depth.
Why the right-back role is a priority
Real Madrid’s squad balance is exposed on the right flank. Modern full-backs must defend stoutly, contribute to build-up and supply wide width — all areas Carvajal covered at a high level, even in a waning season. The incoming coaching team is expected to prioritise a ready-made option and competition to avoid instability in a key position next season.
Six candidates Real Madrid could target
Amar Dedić — Benfica (formerly Red Bull Salzburg)
Dedić is a 23-year-old Bosnia international who combines defensive solidity with forward thrust. Benfica’s unbeaten domestic campaign raised his stock, and his profile suits a coach who demands two-way intensity. Contract to 2030 and a reported €50m release clause make him attainable but not cheap. Fit: young, mouldable, long-term replacement.
Konrad Laimer — Bayern Munich
Laimer (28) brings versatility — comfortable on either flank and in midfield — plus Premier competitive experience via the Bundesliga. Contract runs to 2027 and recent public wrangling over wages suggests Bayern might not block his exit. Fit: immediate physicality and tactical intelligence; a pragmatic pick if Madrid want experience without a heavy premium.
Santiago Mouriño — Villarreal
Mouriño, 24, has emerged as one of La Liga’s most combative defenders, capable at centre-back and right-back. His tackling numbers underline an aggressive, duel-winning profile that would add bite to Madrid’s back line. Fit: strong defensive backbone, useful for Mourinho’s disciplinarian approach; still developing on the ball.
Jon Aramburu — Real Sociedad
Aramburu, 23, is a defensive baseline machine — high tackles and interception numbers mark him as consistent and reliable. Contractual buyout figures make him a headline option but not an impossible one. Fit: dependable in rotation, potentially a long-term starter once exposure in European competition grows.
Pedro Porro — Tottenham Hotspur
Porro offers a more attacking template: overlapping runs, crossing and pace. At 26 he combines prime years with experience in La Liga and the Premier League. Tottenham’s situation could free him up this summer. Fit: boosts offensive output on the right, but Madrid would need midfield balance to cover his forward incursions.
Diogo Dalot — Manchester United
Dalot remains a player long linked with elite European clubs. At 27, he provides two-way balance, Premier League-hardened fitness and positional versatility. With two years left on his United deal, he would likely be classified as obtainable. Fit: the safest short-term upgrade — experienced, tactically adaptable and ready to step into pressure matches.
What each signing would mean tactically and culturally
A younger recruit like Dedić or Aramburu signals a rebuild: patience, succession planning and potential resale value. Laimer or Dalot would tilt towards immediate stability and experience — pragmatic choices to steady the dressing room after a legend’s exit. Porro would push Madrid toward a more attack-minded right channel, which requires complementary midfield cover. Mouriño offers defensive grit, aligning with a Mourinho-style emphasis on organisation.
Transfer feasibility and strategy
Madrid’s options balance price, contract length and squad need. Release clauses and buyouts create boundaries: Benfica’s Dedić and Real Sociedad’s Aramburu carry meaningful price tags; Laimer’s wage negotiation drama could open a window; Dalot and Porro are market-available but come with Premier League valuation. Real must weigh immediate readiness against long-term planning — and whether to prioritise a starter or rotation depth.
Outlook: what happens next
Expect Madrid to pursue multiple threads: a short-term, experienced option plus a younger prospect for succession. Mourinho’s arrival (if confirmed) will shape the profile — he typically values defensive reliability and mentality. The club’s recruitment must deliver both on-field competence and the intangible leadership that replaces Carvajal’s presence.
Conclusion
Carvajal’s departure is both emotional and practical. Replacing a club icon is rarely straightforward, but the summer offers Madrid a chance to recalibrate the right-back slot — whether through youth, experience or a hybrid of both.
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