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Five Real Madrid players likely to leave in the summer
As the summer transfer window approaches, the “Valdebebas revolving door” is expected to spin again. Real Madrid are a club that never stand still, and after an inconsistent season so far, the squad is braced for an overhaul.
There are clear holes in the squad that need to be filled, with the Merengues already scoring the market for reinforcements in defence and midfield.
However, the summer is not just about adding star power. There will be cuts made to the current roster in order to make way for new faces.
As such, from expiring contracts to transfer listings, here are five Real Madrid players likely to be playing elsewhere next season.
1. Eduardo Camavinga
In what is undoubtedly the most surprising name on the list, Eduardo Camavinga has lost the “untouchable” status at Real Madrid. Recent reports indicate that the club are now willing to listen to offers in the region of €50 million for the Frenchman.
While his talent is undeniable, the lack of consistency has been a major hindrance for Camavinga, stopping him from taking the next step in his career at Real Madrid.
With Real Madrid in the market for new midfielder, the club hierarchy appears ready to cash in to fund other priority targets. For a player of his age and ceiling, a €50 million price tag will likely trigger a massive bidding war among Premier League giants.
2. David Alaba
On the other side of the spectrum happens to be veteran defender David Alaba. The Austrian’s time at Real Madrid appears to have reached its natural conclusion.
After all, Alaba is officially out of contract this summer, and the club has signaled no intent to renew. His final season has been marred by a difficult recovery from a long-term knee injury, leaving him unable to contribute on the pitch.
Moreover, his steep wages are also seen as an issue, leading to a likely departure. As a free agent, Alaba’s experience remains an attractive prospect for clubs in the Saudi Pro League or MLS, marking the end of a decorated chapter at the Bernabeu.
3. Dani Ceballos
Dani Ceballos finds himself in a familiar position heading into the final phase of another season. Despite flashes of quality, he remains a peripheral figure in a crowded midfield at Real Madrid.
Having come close to leaving last summer, the midfielder made a late U-turn, but the decision has not paid off, as he continues to struggle for game-time and is currently injureed.
At this stage of his career, Ceballos will want to prioritise consistent minutes. And, a permanent move, likely a long-awaited return to Real Betis, seems the most logical solution for all parties involved.
4. Ferland Mendy
Ferland Mendy was a staple of the Ancelotti era at Real Madrid, with the Italian tactician hailing him as the best defensive left-back in the world. However, his recurring muscle injuries, most recently a hamstring injury sustained this month, have long been a concern at the club.
Between recurring injuries, his age and the club’s desire for a more offensive profile at full-back, the Frenchman seems set to be placed on the transfer list.
Moreover, with only a year left on his deal and a history of fitness concerns, Real Madrid are eager to recoup a fee now rather than losing him for nothing next year.
5. Fran Garcia
Brought back to the club back in 2023 to provide energy and depth, Fran Garcia has struggled to cement his place as a reliable starter at Real Madrid.
The left-back already came close to leaving the club during the winter transfer window, with Bournemouth pushing to sign him, only for Los Blancos to pull the plug on the move.
However, with Alvaro Arbeloa seemingly not rating him very highly, a summer departure will not come as a surprise, even if the club also part ways with Ferland Mendy.
Real Madrid’s season, under the returning Jose Mourinho, has not started as expected at the club.
In terms of results, eight matches have produced six wins one draw and two defeats in all competitions. Both losses have come in La Liga (five wins), leading to the Merengues occupying the fourth place in the table.
Meanwhile, arch-rivals Barcelona have maintained a perfect winning record riding on their relentless goalscoring form, opening up a six-point lead at the table.
Mourinho is using the international break to analyse what has gone wrong and what can be improved. And, several metrics and statistics show that Real Madrid has significant room for improvement.
As highlighted a few days ago, Real Madrid are the team that covers the fewest kilometres per match in La Liga on average, at 96.5, almost ten fewer than Barcelona’s 104.5. Los Blancos are also second-bottom for high-intensity runs per match, with 394.
Possession and defensive numbers
There are further figures suggesting that Real Madrid could be doing more in terms of off-the-ball efforts and defensively.
Real Madrid also happen to be the team that commits the fewest fouls, with 59, fewer than half Espanyol’s 120, yet it is also the team that has been fouled the most in La Liga, with 97.
In terms of recoveries, the Spanish capital giants rank 16th with 302, 38 fewer than Barcelona, while they are also near the bottom for interceptions, ranking 17th.
One argument could be that these figures indicate that Real Madrid are dominating games more often than they are dominated, leaving fewer opportunities to be aggressive without the ball.
However, the numbers do not particularly support that theory either. Real Madrid average 52.3% possession, only slightly more than half.
That is a long way behind Barcelona’s 68.7% and also below Villarreal at 61.4%. Even Atlético Madrid (59.1%) and Real Betis (53.6%) outdo the Merengues.
That possession also allows Barcelona to protect themselves more effectively. The Catalans have conceded just 51 shots, including 22 on target, while Real Madrid have faced 89 shots, with 31 on target.
Finishing not up to the mark either
Real Madrid can improve defensively, but the attacking numbers also reveal significant room for growth.
The biggest issue is finishing. The Merengues have scored 18 goals, 13 fewer than Barcelona’s 31.
That is despite the two teams having taken a similar number of shots: Barça have attempted 150, compared with 131 for Los Blancos. The difference is even smaller when looking at shots on target, with 58 for Barcelona and 53 for Madrid.
Barcelona’s players score once every 1.8 shots on target, while Real Madrid stars needs almost three.
The contrast is particularly clear when comparing the leading scorers for both teams, Raphinha and Kylian Mbappe.
The Brazilian has scored 12 goals from just 25 total shots and 16 shots on target. Real Madrid’s No. 10, meanwhile, has scored seven goals from 41 attempts and 22 shots on target.
The numbers clearly show that Real Madrid have a lot of work to do, both in defence and in attack, if they are to close the gap to the top.
Source: AS
