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Real Madrid's Gareth Bale celebrating his 1-2 goal for Real Madrid during the UEFA Champions League Final soccer match, Real Madrid Vs Atletico Madrid at Estadio Da Luz in Lisbon, Portugal on May 24, 2014.

Five players that could leave Real Madrid on a free transfer in 2022

After an uncharacteristically quiet summer transfer window in which they signed only two players, one of them on a free transfer, Spanish giants Real Madrid seem adamant on retaining their current squad. 

Despite this, Carlo Ancelotti’s side still have a number of high-profile first-team players with less than 12 months left on their contract at the Bernabeu who could leave the club for free next summer.

We’ve taken a look at five players who could leave for no cost come June 30 2022.

Gareth Bale

Bale famously joined Real from Tottenham in 2013 for a then-world record fee of £85.3million, however, his time in the Spanish capital since then has been anything but plain sailing.

The 32-year-old has made no secret of his frustrations with the club during his eight-year stay, infamously displaying a flag which read, “Wales, Golf, Madrid – In that order,” while away on international duty in November 2019, shortly after a move to the Chinese Super League fell through.

Bale’s disappointment with Los Blancos eventually culminated in a season-long loan back at Spurs for the 2020-21 campaign where he enjoyed a more fruitful year – scoring 11 times in 20 Premier League games for the north London team.

Now, under new manager Ancelotti, the Welshman seems to be working his way back up the pecking order at the Bernabeu having once again become a regular feature in the Madrid first team, starting all three of their opening La Liga games this campaign.

Bale does have an impressive record with the 13-times Champions League winners, scoring 106 goals in 254 games for the club, but his injury record and hugely lucrative contract with the club may well mean he’s allowed to leave for free come the end of this campaign.

Isco

Isco was at one time considered amongst the best players in the world, winning the Golden Boy award in 2012 before being selected as one of the 30 best players on the planet in 2017.

Yet in recent seasons, he has begun to see his playing time at the Bernabeu dwindle – making an average of just 24 La Liga appearances over the last two seasons and scoring only one goal in that time.

With the Spaniard not yet in his 30s and his prime years possibly still to come he way well opt to leave Madrid in search of greater first-team opportunities.

In recent years the attacking midfielder has consistently seen his name linked with moves away from the club he joined from Malaga in 2013, with Everton reportedly the most likely to secure the signature of the four-time European champion.

Luka Modric

Modric has secured his legacy as one of the all-time greats at the Bernabeu during his nine years at the club.

The 36-year-old has made over 398 appearances for the team since joining from Tottenham in 2012 and was instrumental during Real’s four Champions League wins between 2014 and 2018.

He then had his greatness truly secured when he became the first player not named Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo to win the Ballon d’Or in 10 years back in 2018. 

However, with the Croatian now entering the twilight years of his career, and his contract with the Spanish giants nearing its conclusion, rumours over his future at the club have become abundant.

For now at least though, it does seem as if Modric is not going anywhere, with Spanish sports daily Marca reporting: “He is physically in better shape than in previous years. 

“That is why Real is planning to fulfil his dream and allow him to conclude his career with a contract until the summer of 2023. There are no official negotiations yet, but the club is open to that idea.”

READ: Remembering the night Luka Modric entered the pantheon of ‘world class’

Marcelo 

After 14 years at the club, left-back Marcelo currently ranks as Real Madrid’s longest-serving player, though his contract will expire come June 2022.

Owing to the emergence of fellow full-backs Ferland Mendy and Miguel Guttierrez, it’s conceivable that Marcelo will be deemed surplus to requirements by manager Ancelotti.

The decision to release the fan favourite and club captain would not be taken lightly by Real but given he will be 34 come the end of 2021-22 season, it may well be a logical one.

Marcelo has already attracted interest over a free transfer next summer, with Turkish giants Fenerbache reportedly ready to swoop in.

Antonio Blanco

20-year-old academy graduate Blanco burst into the first team last season, making a number of impressive appearances, and has already been marked as a star of the future by many at the club.

Yet Real are still yet to tie the promising defensive midfielder down on a long-term contract with his current deal expiring at the end of the current campaign.

The signs of Blanco receiving a new deal do seem promising, however, with a report from Marca claiming that the Madrid higher-ups have agreed to hand him a new contract with a €100million release clause.


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