Haaland in, Ramos out: The Real Madrid players who could leave this summer

Cameron Smith

• Updated: 23 May 2023 08:39 CDT
• 5 min read

They are currently mounting a title charge in La Liga, but Real Madrid could face several exits this summer, and with Zinedine Zidane eyeing up Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland, sales will be needed to raise funds.

Zidane has kept a fairly regular starting XI this season, when he hasn’t been hampered by injuries, and those not included could be set for a move away.

READ MORE: Coutinho out, Messi in doubt: The Barcelona players who could leave this summer

The France legend will have set his sights on a challenge for La Liga title in 2022, as well as the Champions League, and sales will need to be made to ensure Real Madrid aren’t plunged into financial crisis like their Clasico rivals Barcelona.

Goalkeepers

Real Madrid currently have three senior goalkeepers on their books, first choice Thibaut Courtois and his back-up Andriy Lunin, as well as 21-year-old Altube, who is yet to make his first-team debut.

With both Courtois and Lunin’s contract not expiring until 2024, and Courtois in particular doing a solid job between the sticks, it seems fairly likely that no movement will be occurring at the club this summer in this position.

Defenders

Onto defenders and it’s a different story. Zidane counted upon both Marcelo and Sergio Ramos during the club’s three successive Champions League wins, but both are now into their early-to-mid-30s and both are out of contract this summer.

Now, negotiations with Ramos have been ongoing for almost a year, and while a deal is yet to have been agreed, it’s likely that if the club gives their club captain whatever demands he has set, the Spaniard may well stay. He wants a two-year deal to remain with Real Madrid, with the club only willing to offer a one-year deal.

Marcelo, on the other hand, seems destined to leave. The Brazilian is now 32, and has been replaced by Ferland Mendy as the first choice left-back in the squad. He has amassed just 696 minutes in La Liga this season, in comparison to Mendy’s 2,117, and so, after 14 years at the club, it seems his time at Los Blancos is coming to an end.

The club have Jesus Vallejo returning from his loan spell at Granada this summer, but after three consecutive seasons on loan, he may well be sold.

Nacho Fernandez’s contract expires in 2022 so the club will have to decide whether to renew his deal, sell this summer or let him leave for free next year.

The same applies to both Raphael Varane and Daniel Carvajal, so the club will have to make a decision fast on what lies ahead for their futures at the Bernabeu.

Manchester United and Liverpool are reportedly interested in the former.

Midfielders

Luka Modric is the big name here who could potentially be on his way out. The 2018 Ballon d’Or winner’s current deal expires this summer, and at 35, it’s up in the air whether he will extend this.

It would be a huge loss for Real Madrid to see him go, but Eduardo Camavinga is on their shortlist and he would be a perfect replacement.

To afford him, they may have to sell Isco and Martin Odegaard, who are both evidently not in Zidane’s plans. Isco has managed just 711 minutes in all competitions for Los Blancos this season, and Odegaard was loaned out to Arsenal in January after making just three league starts in the first-half of the season, despite his impressive form at Real Sociedad last campaign.

Isco’s deal expires in 2022 so he needs to be sold this summer or the club risk losing him for free next year, and Odegaard will need to be sold if a move for Camavinga is what Real Madrid pursue.

Forwards

In their bid for Mbappe or Haaland, the club will need to offload several assets, and they may well come in the forward line.

Gareth Bale will return from his loan spell at Tottenham this summer, and with the Welshman not in Zidane’s plans, he will need to be sold as his wages will eat up their budget.

Furthermore, Luka Jovic will come back from his spell back at Eintracht Frankfurt, and he may be sold to make room for one of the aforementioned superstar strikers.

Brahim Diaz, Reinier, and Takefusa Kubo are all extremely young, and the club may look to loan them out again, rather than sell them on a permanent deal.

Lucas Vazquez has filled in at right-back recently, but he is primarily a right-winger and his contract expires this summer so the club need to quickly arrange a new deal or he will leave for absolutely nothing. He recently suffered an injury that could put him out for the rest of the season.

Mariano Diaz has played just 372 La Liga minutes this term, scoring one goal, and while he could be sold, he may well be kept as a useful back-up option.