Real Madrid Must Offload These Four Stars to Reshape Their Squad This Summer
With Real Madrid entering a fresh chapter under Xabi Alonso's leadership, the club is preparing to move on from multiple players who no longer fit their future plans.
Judged by Real Madrid's lofty expectations, the 2024–25 campaign represented a catastrophic disappointment. The team failed to secure any significant silverware, allowed 84 goals, and suffered defeat in four Clásico encounters. Much of the squad's struggles originated from an imbalanced roster filled with veteran, injury-riddled players.
Los Blancos have therefore prioritized acquiring promising young talents this summer, including Dean Huijsen, Franco Mastantuono and Álvaro Carreras, alongside established winner Trent Alexander-Arnold. The Spanish powerhouse also said goodbye to Luka Modrić and Lucas Vázquez.
Additional exits may still occur, however, as Real Madrid continues constructing a squad designed for sustained success.
Here are four players Real Madrid must offload before the 2025–26 campaign begins.
4. Endrick
Endrick endured a forgettable inaugural season. The 18-year-old found himself glued to the substitutes' bench rather than featuring regularly, managing only fleeting appearances during matches' final moments.
Nevertheless, the Brazilian displayed flashes of brilliance during Carlo Ancelotti's concluding tenure, particularly in Copa del Rey action where he netted five times across six appearances. Endrick's injury absence from the FIFA Club World Cup, however, allowed Gonzalo García to emerge as Los Blancos' likely backup striker after claiming the tournament's Golden Boot.
Though an outright sale seems improbable, Real Madrid reportedly consider loaning the youngster for the 2025–26 season. Rather than warming Alonso's bench as third-choice striker, Endrick could develop through consistent playing time elsewhere.
3. Dani Ceballos
Dani Ceballos remains among the few Real Madrid survivors from their 2018 Champions League triumph. The midfielder subsequently captured European glory twice more in white, though he seldom earned regular starting opportunities with Los Blancos.
Despite proving himself as a reliable backup and dependable substitute, Ceballos has become surplus to requirements at Real Madrid. The club boasts an extensive collection of talented young midfielders featuring Fede Valverde, Jude Bellingham, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Eduardo Camavinga and Arda Güler.
Realistically, the Spaniard cannot compete with any of these players for minutes under Alonso's system. During the new manager's opening six matches, Ceballos accumulated merely 70 total minutes at the Club World Cup.
The optimal strategy involves securing a reasonable transfer fee for the former Arsenal player while creating squad space for a potential marquee addition; Real Madrid have been connected with Rodri, whose Manchester City contract expires next summer.
2. Ferland Mendy
Ferland Mendy concluded another injury-plagued season. The 30-year-old was unavailable for 23 matches last term and participated in fewer than half of Madrid's 68 fixtures during their demanding 2024–25 schedule.
Indeed, since arriving at Real Madrid in 2019, Mendy has exceeded 35 appearances in just two individual seasons. Consistently, the Frenchman spends extended periods recovering from injuries, leaving his team without their primary left-back.
Mendy's fitness concerns motivated Real Madrid to acquire Fran García in 2023 and Carreras this summer. The club currently maintains three left-backs in their squad, with recent reports suggesting Mendy faces the highest likelihood of departure as Alonso shapes his future-focused roster.
1. David Alaba
Among all Real Madrid players, David Alaba represents the most urgent departure candidate. The Austrian bears little resemblance to the performer who featured in virtually every match during his initial 2021–22 season with Los Blancos.
Currently, Alaba typically occupies the treatment room or bench at Real Madrid. The center-back sustained an ACL injury in December 2023 and remained absent until January 2025. Following his long-awaited return, Alaba struggled to regain peak fitness and encountered additional problems that sidelined him extensively throughout the 2024–25 campaign's conclusion.
The 33-year-old also commands an enormous €22.5 million ($26.1 million) annual salary despite totaling just 31 appearances across the previous two seasons. This substantial wage combined with his declining performance makes Alaba's departure an obvious choice, though the club must locate a willing purchaser.