Real Madrid's Three Must-Sell Stars: The 2026 Exodus That Could Transform Los Blancos
Should Real Madrid seek to acquire fresh talent during the January or summer transfer periods, the Spanish powerhouse will need to offload some struggling players in the coming year.
Los Blancos may have secured Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dean Huijsen, Álvaro Carreras and Franco Mastantuono for the 2025–26 campaign, but they continue to require significant strengthening in their defensive and midfield departments.
Whether the 15-time European titleholders will enter the transfer market this January or delay until the summer remains uncertain, but regardless of timing, they must contemplate releasing both seasoned veterans and promising youngsters to construct a squad capable of competing for trophies in the coming seasons.
Here are three players Real Madrid might offload in 2026 to create room and generate funds for major acquisitions.
3. Ferland Mendy
It's clear that Ferland Mendy's prime years wearing the white jersey are now past. While nobody questions the defensive capabilities the French player offers Real Madrid, in recent seasons, he's seldom fit enough to even appear briefly, much less demonstrate his abilities.
Mendy endured four separate injuries during the previous campaign that sidelined him for a combined 142 days. In the 2025–26 season, the left-back has already been absent for 16 of Los Blancos' 25 matches.
Even with full fitness, Mendy wouldn't secure a spot in Alonso's starting lineup. Summer acquisition Carreras has established himself as the unquestioned first-choice on the left wing, delivering outstanding performances during his initial five months at the club.
Mendy remains tied to Real Madrid through 2028 and might follow a trajectory similar to David Alaba—earning wages for years without meaningful pitch contributions—unless the Spanish club locates a team prepared to acquire the French international.
2. Dani Ceballos
Indeed, Dani Ceballos remains part of Real Madrid's roster. The midfielder represents one of the last remaining squad members who experienced the club's 2018 Champions League victory under Zinedine Zidane.
Similar to Mendy, however, Ceballos is fighting for minimal playing opportunities under Alonso. The Spanish player has recorded only nine appearances exceeding 20 minutes in 2025–26, with many of those coming during Los Blancos' injury difficulties.
Ceballos anticipated his reduced involvement, leading him to contemplate returning to his childhood team Real Betis during the previous summer. However, the transfer never materialized, leaving the 29-year-old in Madrid.
The club should be motivated to revisit this potential move in 2026, not only to accommodate the rumored return of Nico Paz, but also to generate revenue before Ceballos departs as a free agent in June 2027.
1. Arda Güler
Initially, the very idea of releasing Arda Güler appears ridiculous. The midfielder ranks among Real Madrid's finest creative players, and his partnership with Kylian Mbappé is unmatched.
However, since Jude Bellingham recovered from injury and reclaimed his position as the team's primary attacking midfielder, Güler has found it difficult to establish his role. The Turkish international has recorded merely two assists across his previous 14 appearances and hasn't excelled when deployed in a deeper midfield position.
Actually, Güler would likely have been limited to substitute appearances in many of Los Blancos' recent fixtures if Eduardo Camavinga hadn't suffered an ankle problem. Given the current squad composition, the team's equilibrium functions better without the 20-year-old sharing the field with Bellingham.
Parting with a talent like Güler would undoubtedly damage Real Madrid. However, with interest from multiple European powerhouses, including Manchester United, it might benefit the Spanish giants to capitalize on the player's €90 million ($105.8 million) valuation to finally obtain the signature of an essential deep-lying playmaker.