Five expiring stars who will definitely leave in 2023

Carlo Garganese

• Updated: 12 Oct 2022 18:56 BST
• 4 min read

We are now just two-and-a-half months away from the opening of the January transfer window.

The winter market will not only give teams all over Europe the chance to splash the cash and strengthen their squads.

It will also be an opportunity to begin negotiations with players whose contracts are expiring at the end of the season.

For a full list of the best players whose contracts run out in the summer of 2023, click here.

But in this article, we run down five players who almost certainly will not be signing a new deal at their current club.

Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd)

The most high-profile expiring footballer who will leave in 2023 is Cristiano Ronaldo.

The 37-year-old issued a transfer request back in July, demanding to join a Champions League club who could challenge for major trophies.

Despite his agent Jorge Mendes offering him around to numerous clubs around Europe, Ronaldo did not receive a concrete offer.

He will certainly be offered around again in January, but if he does remain it will only be until the end of the campaign.

Memphis Depay (Barcelona)

Memphis Depay signed for Barcelona on a free transfer a year ago from Lyon, penning a two-year contract.

However, he has endured a miserable time at Camp Nou and has never nailed down a first-team place.

He was available for sale this past summer and was in advanced negotiations with Juventus. However, his excessive wage demands scuppered a move.

Depay will surely consider a transfer again in January as he has only started two matches this season and featured in 203 minutes of action. The 28-year-old has said, though, he could wait it out and join a club on a Bosman in June.

Sergio Busquets (Barcelona)

It has been widely reported among numerous prominent sources that Sergio Busquets will finally end his legendary Barcelona career at the end of the season.

Busquets’ contract expires at the end of the campaign and he will not be penning an extension.

It is believed that the 34-year-old already has a deal with Inter Miami, and will move to Major League Soccer next June.

Busquets will go down as one of Barcelona’s greatest midfielders after making almost 700 appearances and winning every honour in the game.

N’Golo Kante (Chelsea)

N’Golo Kante’s Chelsea contract expires at the end of the season, together with fellow midfield star Jorginho.

It is believed right now that only one of these two players – at most – will pen an extension given they are both now in their thirties.

Jorginho is the favourite if there is a choice due to the fact that Kante has been suffering numerous injuries over the last year or so.

The 31-year-old has had seven different injuries in just over a year, meaning Chelsea are reluctant to give him a new contract.

Alex Sandro (Juventus)

Juventus have six players who will leave the club on a free transfer at the end of the 2022-23 season unless they sign new contracts.

These are third goalkeeper Carlo Pinsoglio, right-back Juan Cuadrado, centre-back Daniele Rugani, left-back Alex Sandro, midfielder Adrien Rabiot and attacking midfielder Angel Di Maria.

As it stands, it is very possible that all six of these players will be released – such is the crisis the club find themselves in on the pitch.

However, one player who will certainly leave is Alex Sandro. The Brazilian has declined badly in recent years, is on big wages and turns 32 next year.