Florentino Perez has confirmed that the only way Real Madrid can make new signings this summer is to release several members of the current first team squad. The revelations come amidst a frenzy of speculation in the Spanish press which hint that long-term servants of the club Guti and Raul could form part of the exodus. Dutch trio Wesley Sneijder, Royston Drenthe and Rafael van der Vaart have all been linked with moves away to Ajax and Chelsea respectively, Javier Saviola is expected to depart on a free, Julien Faubert will return to West Ham United after his loan spell, while former Manchester United star Ruud van Nistelrooy, Arsenal target Ruben de la Red, Arjen Robben and Mahamadou Diarra head a pack of players whose fitness problems could signal an end to their careers in the famous white jerseys. With Fabio Cannavaro already returning to Juventus, it appears that German centre-half Christoph Metzelder and Argentine Gabriel Heinze could also be shown the door.
Speaking to Atena 3, Perez confirmed that sales were an inevitability.
“In Spain you can only have a 25-man squad. At the moment we have 28 players and we want to bring in five or six so I think that we will have to let around nine go," he continued.
"Is Raul on this list? Raul is undisputable, a symbol. It would be difficult to see him go.
"Guti is loved by the fans and he deserves that affection and the respect of everyone."