It is astonishing that Real Madrid have not made any signings in the past three transfer windows. Los Blancos look destined to be putting an end to this streak with several big names likes David Alaba, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland being linked to the club.
However, given the club’s current financial situation, it will be nearly impossible for Los Blancos to sign players without discarding a few of their own. The unprecedented global pandemic has made life difficult for the most elite of European clubs and Real Madrid are no exception. The 4th Official lists out two Real Madrid players who are heading for the exit door at the Santiago Bernabeu this summer –
Isco
The Spaniard was a pivotal part of the Real Madrid side that won three UEFA Champions League titles on the bounce and kept mighty Gareth Bale out of the starting eleven with his mesmerising performances. However, fast-forward to the 2020/21 season, Gareth Bale is out of the club on loan and Isco himself does not get into the playing eleven as well.
Isco has become a shadow of his former self and barely gets any sort of playing time even with first-team regulars missing. The talented midfielder has had a fall-out of sorts with Zinedine Zidane and finds himself out of favour of the gaffer. It could also be the case of the emergence of players like Federico Valverde and Martin Odegaard.
Injuries have also played a spoilt sport for Isco on a couple of occasions in the past two seasons and it will be in the best interest of the former Malaga man to move to greener pastures. Isco has only made 14 appearances in the Primera Divison this season with no goals and one single assist to his credit.
Dani Ceballos
Dani Ceballos arrived at the scene in Real Madrid in the summer of 2017 and spent two entire seasons at the club before being loaned out to Arsenal. The 24-year-old midfielder has failed to deliver on the promise he showed in the 2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championship where he got crowned the title of the Player of the Tournament.
Ceballos has been consistent with the minutes at the Emirates Stadium, however, he does not seem to be a player who will make a return to the Spanish capital and dispossess the likes of Toni Kroos, Casemiro, Federico Valverde or even Martin Odegaard, all of whom presently sit higher in the pecking order at Real Madrid. It will be in the best interest of Ceballos to push for a move away from Madrid as it will help him steer his career in the right direction forward.
