Real Madrid's plans for 2019/20 loanees: Odegaard, Kubo...
Only goalkeeper Andriy Lunin looks to be certain of a place in Real Madrid's 2020/21 squad, with the Ukrainian to replace Alphonse Areola.
We now have a clear picture of the out-on-loan Real Madrid players expected to be a part of Los Blancos’ first-team squad next season: almost none of them. Indeed, only goalkeeper Andriy Lunin looks to be assured of his spot back at his parent club.
Lunin to replace Areola as number two to Courtois
The Ukrainian international, who has spent the second half of the season at Segunda División side Real Oviedo, is in line to replace Thibaut Courtois’ understudy, Alphonse Areola, whose year-long loan from Paris Saint-Germain comes to an end after the 2019/20 campaign. Fellow keeper Luca Zidane, who has been at Racing Santander, is out of contract and is set to leave Madrid.
Achraf sold, Odegaard and Ceballos to stay at loan clubs
Meanwhile, defender Achraf Hakimi was a major candidate for a Madrid squad berth after his successful two-year loan spell at Borussia Dortmund, and was part of coach Zinedine Zidane’s plans for 2020/21. However, he was reluctant to go back to the Bernabéu as back-up to Dani Carvajal, and has instead been sold to Inter Milan.
Another player who has impressed out on loan, Martin Odegaard, prefers to continue his development by staying at Real Sociedad for a second season, while Dani Ceballos (whose poor relationship with Zidane meant he was always unlikely to return) appears set to remain at Premier League Arsenal for another year.
Madrid poised to cash in on likes of Mayoral and Reguilón
Alongside Achraf, Madrid are expected to cash in on a few other loanees. A chief candidate for a summer sale, for example, is striker Borja Mayoral, who is attracting interest from Getafe and Valencia. The 23-year-old, scorer of 14 goals for Levante over the course of a two-season loan stint, is valued by Madrid at 20 to 30 million euros.
After two campaigns on loan at Leganés, midfielder Óscar Rodríguez is another player who is being sought a new club, and, given the current, delicate financial climate, Real Madrid would also be willing to sell Sergio Reguilón if an acceptable offer came in for the left-back, who has been at Sevilla this term.
Kubo's non-EU passport rules out Real return
Of the 11 Madrid players who have been out on loan this season, there is one whose chances of a return to the Bernabéu are scuppered by red tape: Takefusa Kubo. The Japanese doesn’t have a European Union passport and, with only three places for non-EU players up for grabs, he will have to wait for his opportunity.
Question marks over Odriozola future
The future of right-back Álvaro Odriozola remains an unknown, meanwhile. The 24-year-old’s long-term future seems certain to be away from Real Madrid; however, a close-season move from the Bernabéu could leave Zidane with a lack of recognised cover for Carvajal, the Frenchman’s first choice in the position.