With a squad overhaul likely in July and August, we looks at the players who should be kept and those
who should be offloaded when the season ends
Real Madrid's squad is in need of some renewal.
Although Los Blancos claimed a double of La Liga and
the Champions League last season, they have
struggled to keep up that intensity this season and
changes lie ahead at the end of the current
campaign. Last summer, Madrid's squad was the envy of
everyone else in Europe, but the players brought in
have hardly featured, while James Rodriguez,
Pepe and Alvaro Morata were not really replaced,
leaving important gaps in the roster for coach
Zinedine Zidane. Madrid went on to add the UEFA Super Cup and the
Spanish Supercopa at the beginning of the season, as
well as the Club World Cup in December, but their
disappointing campaign in La Liga has highlighted the
need for reinforcements this summer.
Here, We takes a look at the men who should stay and leave come the end of the season, as well as
those fighting for their futures at the Santiago
Bernabeu...
Players who may likely go
Kiko Casilla – It is common knowledge that Real Madrid are searching for a new goalkeeper and
there are two possible plans at Santiago Bernabeu.
One is to bring in an established star like Manchester
United's David de Gea, while the other is to recruit a
younger man such as Athletic Club's Kepa
Arrizabalaga who can gain experience and become a starter further down the line. Whatever does
happen, current second choice shot-stopper Kiko
Casilla is set to be the one to depart this summer.
Dani Ceballos – Spain's talented Under-21 midfielder was wanted by half of Europe last
summer, but opted to sign for Real Madrid. However,
opportunities have been few and far between and a
loan move now looks likely in the summer – possibly
to former club Betis. Ceballos had wanted to go out
on loan in December, but was unable to leave so soon after his summer transfer.
Achraf Hakimi – The 19-year-old right-back has provided back-up this season to Dani Carvajal and
has featured more than he would have expected
after the Spain defender was sidelined earlier on in
the campaign. The Morocco international is an
exciting talent who is highly thought of at the
Bernabeu, but is considered somewhat raw for the first team and is likely to leave – probably for a spell
on loan – this summer as Madrid look to bring in a
more experienced player as back-up for Carvajal.
Marcos Llorente – The defensive midfielder has followed in the footsteps of father Paco and great
uncle Francisco Gento at Real Madrid, but he is
beginning to become frustrated at his lack of playing
time for Los Blancos. The 23-year-old is some way
down the pecking order at Santiago Bernabeu,
particularly after the recent re-emergence of Mateo Kovacic, and is set to leave this summer. He and the
club must now decide whether the transfer is a loan
option or a permanent deal.
Borja Mayoral – The young striker was kept at Madrid as Morata and Mariano both left in the
summer, but he has not really grabbed his chance to
be back-up for Karim Benzema and the 20-year-old
is set to be surplus to requirements this summer. The
Spanish Under-21 striker, who has hit five goals in 26
appearances, could be sent out again on loan (having played for Wolfsburg in 2016-17), but may
leave on a permanent deal.
Likely few of those players might survive the exit door.
