Real Madrid News
Real Madrid full-back could be headed for the exit doors next summer – report
Real Madrid are bracing themselves for a busy summer at the end of the season as several of their players are facing an uncertain future at the club.
Starting from the contract uncertainty of Toni Kroos and Luka Modric, to the pressure of selling Eden Hazard, there might be a significant overhaul in the squad in the summer.
According to MARCA, there is one more player who is in contention to leave Santiago Bernabeu at the end of the season, due to his contract not being taken care of.
The player in question is Ferland Mendy. The Frenchman had been a part of the Real Madrid setup since 2019 when he joined the club in a €48 million move from Lyon. The defender has since become a crucial outlet in the left-back position, having featured in 122 competitive matches for the club.
However, the report suggests Mendy could leave Santiago Bernabeu at the end of the season as the player is yet to renew his contract which expires in 2025.
There had been negotiations in the past over an extension, but the Frenchman’s wage demands put an end to those talks. And since then, there has been no fresh contact about a renewal for the full-back.
Since joining from Lyon, Mendy has had a topsy-turvy time at Real Madrid. The left-back has performed well on occasions, showcasing excellent technical qualities and speed. However, he has been criticised for his lack of consistency and intent to get forward.
On top of that, Real Madrid have been gunning for a new left-back for quite some time now. Former youth prospects like Miguel Gutierrez and Fran Garcia have been linked quite heavily, while there is believed to an interest in Alphonso Davies of Bayern Munich as well.
The Whites have been eyeing a move for Croatian international Josko Gvardiol, who may even join the Real Madrid setup in the summer.
Mendy’s exit, therefore, could pave the way for Los Blancos to fund a move for Gvardiol, though given the club’s lack of depth in the position, they may even opt to sign another option in the summer transfer window.
Marco Asensio is fighting for his future at Real Madrid. The 27-year-old winger is out of contract at the end of the season and there is no concrete decision made by the club over his renewal as of yet.
Some reports had suggested that the club had tabled an offer worth €4 million per year, which the Spaniard did not like as he sought a higher pay packet closer to around €6 million-a-year.
With his future a subject of intense speculation, Asensio had been linked with a move away to Premier League clubs such as Arsenal and Liverpool.
Meanwhile, closer to home, there were strong links to Real Madrid’s arch-rivals Barcelona. Indeed, the Catalans have been touted as potential suitors for Asensio for quite some time now due to the fact that he is represented by Jorge Mendes.
The superagent has close ties with Barcelona president Joan Laporta and reports in Spain have suggested that the Real Madrid winger has, indeed, been offered to the current La Liga leaders.
Amidst these speculations, however, Asensio has seemingly made it clear as to where his heart lies as he awaits a decision on his future.
During last night’s El Clasico against Barcelona, the Real Madrid winger came on as a substitute and went on to score a goal, following which he celebrated at Camp Nou, pointing to the Real Madrid logo on his shirt, showing where his allegiances lie.
The goal, however, was disallowed by the VAR, and Los Blancos ended up losing the game 2-1 thanks to a stoppage-time winner by Franck Kessie.
Earlier today, Asensio took to Instagram and posted a picture of him celebrating with his finger pointing to the Real Madrid logo, reiterating his commitment to the club amidst the links to Barcelona.
As for his disallowed goal, it sparked an angry reaction from Carlo Ancelotti, who questioned the legitimacy of the decision made by the VAR during his post-match press conference.
