Ancelotti to decide on future of seven Real Madrid players
The Italian must weigh up his squad options ahead of the new season. Madrid's players will return to training at Valdebebas over the coming weeks.
Madrid will kick off their pre-season in eight days' time. For at least the first two weeks, until the first internationals return, Carlo Ancelotti will have a reduced squad of just thirteen players at his disposal. But as the squad grows, the number of players will increase to 29.
Among them will be the seven players whose loan spells at their respective destinations come to an end on 30 June. In a context of economic restraint that is not very conducive to transfers, the Italian coach must find reinforcements among these loan players. Some return with the club's confirmation that they are staying, others must still convince Ancelotti and there will be those who will once again have to find a new destination. This is the situation of each of them.
Vallejo (24, Granada)
The central defender could have a place in the squad. It depends on the movements of the summer market. The non-renewal of Ramos and the possible departure of Varane could open a door for him in the first team as the fourth centre-back, behind Alaba, Militao and Nacho. But he will also have to convince Ancelotti, who has set his sights on homegrown player Mario Gila. Vallejo has spent the last two years on loan, first half a season at Wolves and the rest at Granada, where he did not get much playing time (1,346' in 21 La Liga games last season). He has a contract until 2025, after renewing before leaving for the Premier League. He will be one of those who will be at Valdebebas from day one, on 5 July.
Ceballos (24, Arsenal)
He has also spent two years away, in his case at Arsenal, where he played 77 times. He is not willing to accept another loan spell this time around. Either he stays at Madrid or he finds a new club. The Andalusian will ask to leave if Ancelotti decides not to count on him. He will wait to know Ancelotti's plans for him. Luis de la Fuente is going to take him to the Olympic Games with Spain so he will not join Madrid until well into August.
Odegaard (22, Arsenal)
Herenveen, Vitesse and Real Sociedad. After three different loan spells, it looked like last summer the Norwegian was back for good after a brilliant season as a Txuri-urdin. However, despite Zidane trying to change his style of play to accommodate him, he did not fit in with the Frenchman and left to finish the season at Arsenal alongside Ceballos. Ancelotti, who gave him a first-team alternative in the closing stages of the 2014-15 LaLiga season, has the task of finding a place for him in the team. The player himself has confirmed that the club has told him that he is coming back, this time to stay. He is scheduled for a 5 July comeback.
Brahim (21, Milan)
His future, as reported by AS, depends on the conversation he intends to have with Ancelotti. But that chat depends on whether De la Fuente finally includes him in the squad for the Olympics on Tuesday. The Malagueño, who has shone in all 39 games he has played in the Rossoneri shirt this season, has only two alternatives in his plans: staying at Madrid or repeating another season on loan at AC Milan, where they have been very satisfied with his performances.
Bale (31, Tottenham)
Bale has maintained that he will not think about his future until his participation at Euro 2020 is over, while acknowledging that, with a contract, he has to return to Real Madrid and put himself under Ancelotti's orders first and foremost. Following Wales' elimination, that will happen on 19 July. Both the coach and Florentino Pérez have expressed optimism for the forward, but his contract runs out in 2022 and this is Madrid's last chance to get some money for his departure on a transfer.
Jovic (23, Eintracht Frankfurt)
The Serbian can say goodbye for good after two poor seasons in the Spanish capital (he cost €60 million) and a few months on loan at Eintracht Frankfurt. Although he has been far from the voracious goalscorer he was before joining Madrid, the Frankfurt club are interested in keeping the striker, but in order to take on the operation (transfer and player's fee) they must sell André Silva, who scored 29 goals in the Bundesliga in 2020-21.
Kubo (20, Getafe)
Bureaucracy is forcing the Japanese player to go on loan again. Madrid have covered their three non-EU places with Vinicius, Rodrygo and Militao. Kubo, after his loan spell at Villarreal, had an intermittent second half of the season at Getafe. Mallorca, on their return to Primera, are interested in having him back on loan as they did two years ago. But before that, this summer he has to take part in the Tokyo Games with the host national team.