Five Dead Weight Players Real Madrid Must Offload This Summer

After consecutive trophy-less campaigns, Real Madrid are preparing to bring in fresh talent this summer, a move that will likely push several established players toward the exit.

It's no secret Los Blancos are in urgent need of reinforcements in defense and midfield following two difficult seasons. The club may also pursue an additional option on the right flank to ease the goalscoring pressure currently falling on Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappé.

New arrivals inevitably mean difficult departures this summer. Not only does the squad need to create space in the dressing room, but the club must also generate funds to help finance what are expected to be high-profile transfers ahead of the 2026–27 campaign.

The silver lining for Real Madrid—and the concerning reality for several players in white—is that there is no shortage of candidates who could be shown the door at the Bernabéu over the coming months.

Fran García

Having three left backs in the squad is simply unsustainable. Despite his injury history, Ferland Mendy remains the most defensively reliable option at the Bernabéu and continues to enjoy the confidence of both his teammates and the coaching staff. Álvaro Carreras, meanwhile, arrived for $58.8 million (€50 million) last summer and is firmly part of the club's plans despite a dip in form over the past two months.

That leaves Fran García as the surplus option. The Spaniard, contracted until June 2027, finds himself third in the depth chart when all three fullbacks are fit—a position that doesn't entirely reflect his quality, given the solid performances he delivered throughout the season.

Any mid-table European side in the market for a dependable, attack-minded left back would welcome García with open arms. Bournemouth reportedly attempted to bring the 26-year-old in on loan during the winter window, only for Real Madrid to pull the plug at the eleventh hour.

This summer, Los Blancos should correct that decision and allow García to move to a club where he can get regular playing time, particularly if the financial terms are favorable.

Raúl Asencio

Just a season ago, Raúl Asencio appeared to be the next standout product from Castilla with a promising long-term future at Real Madrid. The center back featured in almost every match amid the team's defensive injury crisis and won over supporters with the physicality and intensity he brought to the backline.

However, his place in the starting lineup proved short-lived. The signing of Dean Huijsen, along with Éder Militão's return to fitness and Antonio Rüdiger's revival, left Asencio struggling to even earn bench minutes. His own injury setbacks didn't help, nor did a reported falling out with Álvaro Arbeloa.

Now, with Real Madrid expected to add another center back this summer and potentially extend Rüdiger's deal, Asencio's once-promising Bernabéu future looks increasingly uncertain. His contract running until 2031 also appears to have been a hasty decision by the club, given that the 23-year-old is unlikely to start—or even serve as the first backup—next season.

Los Blancos should steer clear of repeating a David Alaba-type scenario and move on from the defender while clubs are still showing interest, rather than holding on and ultimately taking a financial hit.

Dani Ceballos

Dani Ceballos should have been offloaded last summer. The groundwork was laid for the midfielder to move to Marseille or return to Real Betis, but neither transfer came to fruition, leaving Real Madrid saddled with the 29-year-old for yet another campaign.

On a squad crying out for midfield depth, Ceballos was barely even a secondary option for Real Madrid in 2025–26. And on the rare occasions he was called upon, the Spaniard often looked ineffective or, worse, directly responsible for costly mistakes—most notably when he surrendered possession in the closing stages against Osasuna, condemning Los Blancos to a 2–1 defeat that sent their La Liga title challenge into freefall.

With the club set to enter the transfer market this summer for at least one midfield addition, there is simply no place left for Ceballos at the Bernabéu. He contributes little on the pitch, and whatever supporters remained in his corner at the start of the season have long since lost faith.

Real Madrid must finally move him on before they find themselves paying his wages for yet another season while he collects dust on the bench ahead of his contract expiry in June 2027.

Gonzalo García

Gonzalo García entered the season on the back of an outstanding Club World Cup showing that convincingly established him as Mbappé's natural deputy. His rise kept Endrick sidelined and ultimately led the Brazilian to join Lyon on loan during the winter window.

Yet Gonzalo was never truly afforded the chances to justify the expectations. Even during Mbappé's injury absences, the striker found himself largely confined to the bench, restricted to brief cameo roles. There were moments when Real Madrid were desperately chasing a goal, and still the Spaniard would only be introduced with ten minutes remaining.

Nevertheless, Gonzalo's impressive summer and bright flashes throughout 2025–26 demonstrated his natural finishing instinct and attracted attention from several clubs across Europe. The growing interest presents Real Madrid with an ideal chance to sell the No. 9 for a healthy profit while securing a buy-back clause in any deal.

It's a straightforward decision for Los Blancos, who will welcome Endrick back following a largely productive loan spell this summer, with the teenager earmarked as Mbappé's backup going forward.

Eduardo Camavinga

Eduardo Camavinga was already at the heart of transfer rumors after reports surfaced that the Frenchman was dissatisfied with his lack of playing time at Real Madrid. He was linked with Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool, Chelsea, and Manchester United as the season entered its final stretch.

The speculation only intensified following a run of underwhelming displays. Camavinga drew criticism for his lax defensive work in La Liga that cost Real Madrid crucial points against Mallorca and Girona, effectively derailing their title challenge. He then received a red card in the second leg of the Champions League quarterfinals against Bayern Munich, leaving his side with almost no hope of progressing in their most coveted competition.

Camavinga is far from the only player enduring a difficult spell, but he is among the few who can realistically be considered expendable. Despite his defensive ability and positional flexibility, he cannot count on a guaranteed starting berth, and his minutes are only likely to diminish further if Real Madrid sign a deep-lying playmaker this summer.

Still just 23 years old, Camavinga's potential remains enormous and he would be an excellent acquisition for any top European club seeking a player of his profile. The fee Los Blancos could command for him is simply too attractive to pass up, particularly for a player with little realistic prospect of starting in 2026–27.