Real Madrid's Six Sacrificial Lambs: The Stars Set to Be Sold to Fuel Their Transfer Ambitions

Real Madrid's summer overhaul is well underway. Re-elected president Florentino Pérez and incoming manager José Mourinho have overseen five new additions to the squad, with further signings anticipated.

Striker Carlos Espí became the most recent recruit, arriving from Levante in a €25 million ($28.75 million) transfer, following the acquisitions of Bernardo Silva, Marc Cucurella, Ibrahima Konaté and Denzel Dumfries.

Nineteen-year-old RB Leipzig sensation Yan Diomande is broadly expected to become the sixth summer addition once negotiations with the Bundesliga outfit are finalized. The transfer is projected to be a club-record for Real Madrid, valued at approximately €130 million ($150 million).

At the same time, Los Blancos are in discussions with Manchester City regarding a move for World Cup-winning skipper Rodri, with a defensive midfield reinforcement listed as a top priority. An eighth arrival before the transfer window shuts on September 1 is also possible, with reports indicating Mourinho is still pursuing an elite center back.

It represents a bold statement of ambition from Real Madrid following two trophy-less campaigns. The challenge, however, lies in fitting all the new faces into the squad. Under La Liga regulations, first-team rosters are capped at 25 players, numbered 1 through 25.

Including the five new signings, Real Madrid's current squad stands at 24, leaving room for just one additional player. With at least two more arrivals still expected, one or more departures will be unavoidable.

Here are the players who could be shown the door as Real Madrid look to free up space in Mourinho's squad.

1. Ferland Mendy

The 31-year-old left back has faded into the background at the club due to ongoing injury concerns.

Ferland Mendy managed just nine first-team outings throughout 2025–26, though one of those did come in the Champions League quarterfinal against Bayern Munich, highlighting his value when available.

The trouble is, Mendy is rarely available—he recently went under the knife for a tendon tear that will keep him sidelined at the start of the new campaign. Attracting buyers in his current state will be difficult, but Madrid may consider leaving him off the roster for the opening half of the season in hopes of securing a January move.

2. Raúl Asencio

With Konaté now part of the setup, Raúl Asencio's chances of regular playing time have diminished considerably. Another defensive signing would almost certainly spell the end of the 23-year-old's time at Real Madrid.

Reports indicate Madrid are willing to consider either a sale or a loan, though off-field matters continue to cast a shadow over his situation.

The 23-year-old is due to face trial in September over allegations related to the sharing of intimate footage involving a minor.

3. Eduardo Camavinga

Earlier this year, a departure from the Bernabéu looked almost inevitable for Eduardo Camavinga after five seasons at the club. However, reported interest from the Premier League has cooled considerably in recent weeks.

The 23-year-old is still someone Los Blancos could command a solid fee for, despite a couple of underwhelming campaigns.

What role, if any, Mourinho envisions for the versatile midfielder remains to be seen.

4. Aurélien Tchouaméni

The most straightforward way for Madrid to create room while generating significant funds would be to offload Aurélien Tchouaméni.

The 26-year-old, who was handed a €500,000 ($575,000) fine for his involvement in a dressing-room altercation with Federico Valverde back in May, is a known target for Manchester United and could command a fee approaching nine figures.

It would, however, be an enormously risky decision to part ways with the squad's only natural defensive midfielder ahead of Rodri's confirmed arrival.

5. Franco Mastantuono

One player edging toward the exit is 2025 signing Franco Mastantuono, who appears set to head to Serie A side Fiorentina on a loan deal.

Even if that move materializes, it will not actually open up any first-team roster spots, as the young Argentine is registered with the club's Castilla side.

In La Liga, players under 23 can be registered with a club's B team while still featuring for the first team—which is why Mastantuono wore No. 30 last season rather than a number between 1 and 25.

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6. Endrick

Given that Mastantuono was cleverly registered with the B team last season to free up first-team slots, Madrid could employ the same tactic with Endrick this time around.

The 20-year-old spent the back half of last season on loan at Lyon and is eager to return and compete for minutes under Mourinho, vying with Kylian Mbappé, Espí and likely Diomande for a spot up front or on the right flank.

Being under 23, Endrick could technically be registered with Castilla in 2026–27, though surrendering his No. 9 shirt may be a blow to his pride that he is unwilling to accept.

Whispers of another loan arrangement are also circulating, with Roma among the clubs reportedly showing interest.