Carlo Ancelotti has once again reiterated Real Madrid’s transfer business is done for the summer ahead of the window’s closure at the end of August.

Los Blancos brought in Kylian Mbappe and Endrick in July and saw Nacho Fernandez and Joselu both depart for the Middle East, while Toni Kroos retired at the end of the 2023/24 season.

The reigning La Liga and Champions League holders have been tipped to make a late foray into the transfer market, with their options at centre-back looking short after Nacho’s departure and with David Alaba still to recover from an anterior cruciate ligament injury. Highly-rated 16-year-old Joan Martinez has also been lost to an ACL blow after catching the eye in Madrid’s pre-season friendlies in the United States.

However, asked ahead of his side’s league opener away at Mallorca on Sunday night if Madrid planned to make any more reinforcements, Ancelotti insisted the club’s business is done for now.

He said: “The squad is closed and now we have to wait 12 days for it to finish. We don’t need centre-backs because [David] Alaba will recover soon and properly.

“We also have young players ready to play for us. Unfortunately, Joan [Martinez] is out injured, but we also have Jacobo [Ramon] and [Raul] Asencio. They can make a contribution in some matches.”

Antonio Rudiger and Eder Militao will start in central defence for Sunday evening’s trip to Mallorca, with Jesus Vallejo, who is back in the first-team picture after an unsuccessful loan at Granada last season, acting as back-up. He was named on the bench for the UEFA Super Cup victory over Atalanta in midweek alongside 19-year-old Ramon.

Midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni was also picked at centre-back during some crucial matches during Madrid’s run-in at the end of last season.

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