Five Real Madrid players who could have said goodbye to the Bernabéu
Real Madrid hosted Sevilla in their final home game of the 16/17 season. Five players probably said adios to the fans: James, Morata, Mariano...
Real Madrid played Sevilla this Sunday in the Bernabéu, recording a 4-1 win in their last home game of the 2016/17 season. And it could have been a final farewell for several Real Madrid players. One player who appears to definitely have said goodbye is Pepe, though he wasn't in the squad as he was struggling with injury.
Keylor Navas
Real Madrid decided several months ago that Keylor Navas' time at the club was
over, and that the summer of 2017 would see a new keeper brought in. The big
favourite is Manchester United's De Gea, who the club tried to sign
previously, only to be confounded at the last minute.
Navas blamed for Real Madrid's dips
The Costa Rican keeper has had a wobbly season at times, and took part of the
blame for most of Madrid's lapses. That said, Navas has been in fine form of
late, and played a vital role in ensuring Madrid made the final of the
Champions League in Cardiff (that double save against Atleti for example...)
Navas wants to stay
Navas believes though that he can continue at the Bernabéu: "I'm under contract. I'm
enjoying the privilege of being here, I'm going to continue here and I can't
see myself anywhere else".
Pérez wants De Gea
Zidane and others on the coaching staff have come out to defend the Costa
Rican, but the club bosses, above all Florentino Pérez, have made their minds
up. As far as they are concerned, this will be Keylor Navas' last game in
Chamartín.
Coentrao
This was Coentrao's his final goodbye to the Real Madrid fans at the Bernabéu. Although he's got a year left on his contract, the arrival of Theo Hernández means he's no place in the squad, and the fact he's hardly played this year anyway, having suffered mysterious absences and on-going injuries all year, means its clear that Real Madrid will be moving him on in the summer. Sporting Lisbon are keen, according to A Bola, and the player is keen on the move.
James
Asensio's sudden appearance, Isco's fine season and the lack of places for
attacking midfielders in Zidane's 4-3-3 have all placed James at the front of
the queue to leave Real Madrid this summer. And James appears to definitely be on his way out of the club. He was subbed off in the 62nd minute for Casemiro and, barely able to contain his emotions, he applauded every corner of the Bernabéu.
Clubs looking to sign James
The Colombian would be one of the most attractive propositions on the market and
Europe's big boys are jostling to land him. However the player himself, after
a mini-tantrum in December, has devoted himself to trying to win a place in
Zidane's plans, and has come up with performances, goals and assists every
time he's been given a chance. He is though all too aware that if he did stay
he would likely still be struggling to be a regular starter, something he
obviously feels he should be. And so he has started to look to the future. In
fact, according to reports from Colombia he has already reached an initial
agreement with Manchester United.
Morata
Without a shadow of doubt Morata is going to be in the transfer rumour mills
this summer. Last summer the striker rejected various offers after Zidane
promised him a major role in the team, but the Spaniard feels the French coach
never gave him the playing time he deserved or expected and the striker's
agents have started talks with big clubs around Europe.
Conte keen to contract Morata
The fact he's a Madrid fan and wants to succeed at the Bernabéu play in favour
of Madrid if they are keen to keep him, but Conte, Chelsea coach, is desperate
to land him (he wanted to last summer).
Mou mad on Morata
And in recent weeks, according to El Larguero on Spanish radio station SER,
Mourinho has appeared on the scene, wanting to land Morata for Manchester
United. And Mou could even be ahead of newly crowned champions Chelsea in the
race for the striker's signature.
Mariano
For Mariano this game is likely to be a farewell, but only a temporary one, with the player probably going out on loan this summer, in search of playing time. Zidane told the forward last year that if he stayed he'd barely get to play, but the player insisted in trying to force his way into the team. He took advantage of the vanishingly few chances he got to play, but that was never enough to get more minutes. This summer the club will look for a loan deal for him so he can continue his development, away from the Bernabéu.
