Real Madrid at risk of losing forward for a month on international duty

Real Madrid has a significant issue to address ahead of next year. According to Diario AS, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) are reportedly planning that the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) will be postponed to January 2026, instead of being played in the summer of 2025. This scheduling change means Real Madrid will be without Brahim Diaz for an entire month, a key player who recently committed to playing for Morocco.

Brahim Diaz’s decision to represent Morocco came after multiple rejections by Spain. This choice, while beneficial for his international career, presents a challenge for his club. With AFCON now set for January, Diaz’s absence during a critical mid-season period could impact Real Madrid’s performance domestically and in European competitions.

The rescheduling of AFCON was influenced by the newly expanded Club World Cup, which will feature 32 teams and be held in the United States from June 15 to July 13, 2025. The overlap between these two major tournaments would have forced players to choose between representing their national teams in AFCON and participating in the Club World Cup with their clubs. This posed logistical challenges, especially since CAF will have four teams participating in the Club World Cup. Many of these players would have been crucial for their national teams as well.

Real Madrid must now strategize to cope with Diaz’s absence. The club will need to rely on their squad depth and possibly look into the transfer market to find suitable reinforcements. This situation underscores the broader impact of international tournaments on club football, highlighting the delicate balance clubs must maintain when their players are called up for national duty.