Real Madrid are currently trailing Barcelona by two points at the top of the La Liga standings with their current season coming to an unexpected halt due to the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Maybe, the sudden stop could give Los Blancos some time to reflect on their performances during this campaign and build their squad accordingly during the summer transfer window.
Zinedine Zidane will need to cut off some of the deadwood from his squad if he wants to balance the books for some quality acquisitions in the off-season. Here are four players the Madrid head coach should consider offloading from his team ahead of the new season.
4 Real Madrid Players Zidane Should Look To Offload This Summer
Marcelo
The Brazilian full-back has struggled to remain fit as he has often been plagued with injuries this season. He has made 19 appearances for Los Blancos this term, scoring one goal and providing six assists in all competitions. At 31, Marcelo is not getting any younger so Zidane will do well to ship him out this summer so that he can free up space for a new left-back.
Gareth Bale
The Welsh speedster has flattered to deceive with his performances during this campaign. He has been average at best whenever he has featured for Madrid this season. Just like his teammate Marcelo, he has been a victim of several injuries which has continued to derail his progress at the Spanish capital.
Therefore, the Madrid giants will have no option but to cut him loose in the off-season even if it means that they have to buy out his contract. Bale’s departure will free up some much-needed space in the wage bill for Zidane to make new acquisitions at the end of this campaign.
James Rodriguez
The Colombian midfield ace looks like a shadow of his former self these days. He has failed to reignite his career at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium following an unspectacular two-year loan spell at Bayern Munich. Rodriguez has only made 13 appearances for the Spanish outfit this term, playing a total of 650 minutes in the process.
He has scored one and created two goals during that time which goes to highlight his recent struggles at Madrid. Zidane should sanction the Colombian’s departure this summer as he doesn’t seem like the right fit for the French tactician’s style of play based on his performances in recent seasons.
Luka Jovic
The 22-year-old has failed to replicate his form from his days at Eintracht Frankfurt since joining Madrid last summer. He has not been able to replace Karim Benzema in the first-team as many predicted he would when he initially arrived at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. Jovic has been far from prolific this season as he has only registered two goals and two assists in 24 matches for the Spanish heavyweights. Maybe, parting ways this summer will be the right move for both the player as well as the club.