Which Players Will Be Leaving Real Madrid This Summer?

23 July 2014 03:30

It has been a vintage transfer window for Real Madrid. The recycled vision of donning a team of Galácticos has once again been employed this summer. Holiday negotiations have seen the dynamic centre-midfielder Toni Kroos (£25 million) signed from Bayern Munich, whilst the hottest property off the back of the World Cup, James Rodriguez, has recently signed for the eyebrow-raising fee of £63 million.

These two marquee signings, comprising part of the contemporary Galácticos era, have heightened reports that a few big names will be departing the pastures of Madrid this transfer window.

Within a squad where there is a plethora of attacking talent, Ancelotti predominantly used a 4-2-3-1 formation last year so that he could best utilise players such as Xabi Alonso, Modric, Bale, Ronaldo, Di Maria and Benzema.

However, with the acquisitions of James Rodriguez and Toni Kroos, it will be impossible for Ancelotti to play all of his Galácticos in the same starting XI. With Kroos and Modric as holding midfielders, Bale and Ronaldo as irreplaceable wingers and Rodriguez undoubtedly playing behind Benzema up top, it has been heavily speculated that a host of players could leave due a limited opportunity in the first team despite their world class talent.

Attacking midfielder Isco found it tough to cement his name on the team sheet last season, starting just over half of Madrid’s La Liga fixtures. Therefore, with the acquisition of James Rodriguez alongside competition from Modric for the ‘number 10’ role, the 22-year-old Spaniard may be seeking a new club. The Daily Mail, Daily Mirror and Metro have all speculated that Liverpool are interested in bringing Isco to Anfield, despite reports from Spanish paper Marca that Isco is happy at the Bernabeau.

Another midfielder potentially on his way out of the Bernabeau is Sami Khedira. The German box-to-box midfielder only started 12 games in La Liga last season; struggling to out-perform Xabi Alonso and Luka Modric in the middle of the park. Hence, after the signing of another centre-midfielder in the form of German compatriot Toni Kroos, a few clubs have enquired about the transfer status of Khedira.

Arsenal have been heavily linked with a move for Khedira to balance the amount of attacking midfielders in the squad, yet negotiations reportedly broke down after the German demanded £205k per week. Real insist that they haven’t received an offer for the player.

The last and potentially biggest name that could be leaving Madrid this summer is Angel Di Maria. The Argentinean winger has been a regular in the Madrid side since he signed back in 2010, yet after the signings of Gareth Bale and James Rodriguez in consecutive summers, Di Maria has been effectively bought out of the side. Despite playing more centrally for Madrid last season, nevertheless the amount of natural central midfield players leave Di Maria surplus to requirements.

After being heavily linked with Manchester United in early July, recent sources suggest the 26-year-old is heading to PSG in search of Champions League football. Regardless, a host of clubs will be chasing the signature of the skilful winger.

Leaving Real Madrid leaves no podium to elevate onto, with joining rivals Barcelona considered a criminal offence. Consequently, with a dearth of clubs nearby Spain of a similar stature to Madrid, the Premier League could be seeing some new faces come August.

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Source: DSG