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The nine players sent out on loan by Real Madrid in 20-21 & how they fared

Having replaced Zinedine Zidane as Real Madrid manager, Carlo Ancelotti now has some big decisions to make ahead of 2021-22. 

Despite being linked with the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland, Madrid will have to use their money wisely and could use some of their talented loanees next season.

We’ve taken a look at the nine players Madrid loaned out in 2020-21 to see how they fared.

Dani Ceballos

After winning the FA Cup with Arsenal in 2019-20, Ceballos decided to return to north London for a second successive loan spell.

The Spain international failed to build on his promising first season and found himself in and out of the team in 2020-21, starting just 17 Premier League games.

“I believe that this year I have hardened a lot as a player and I think now is the time to settle in a club with a long contract and be able to show my game,” Ceballos told Cadena SER in June 2021.

“[Carlo] Ancelotti has just arrived and we have to talk. I have never met him, but there are players who speak well of him. I’m sure that Madrid will be good.

“It is clear that the first thing is to talk to the coach and find out what he wants from me and also tell him what I want, which is to be important.”

Gareth Bale

After being deemed surplus to requirements by Zidane, Bale returned to former club Tottenham in search of regular first-team football ahead of Euro 2020.

The Wales international struggled for match fitness and first-team minutes under Jose Mourinho but showed glimpses of his former brilliance in the final weeks of the season.

Despite only starting 10 Premier League games in 2020-21, he still hit the back of the net 11 times, averaging a goal every 84 minutes in the league.

The 31-year-old has one year left on his contract at the Bernabeu and could be reintegrated into the Madrid squad by Ancelotti, although there have been rumours he might call it a day and retire.

READ: Gareth Bale’s three goals were a two-finger farewell salute to Jose Mourinho

Reinier

Having watched the likes of Christian Pulisic and Jadon Sancho shine at Borussia Dortmund, Madrid sent Reinier to the Bundesliga side on a two-year loan deal.

The 19-year-old failed to establish himself as a starter at Dortmund in 2020-21, with 18 of his 19 appearances being brief cameos off the bench.

In total, he played just 339 minutes in all competitions and will be hoping for more first-team opportunities under new boss Marco Rose in 2021-22.

Brahim Diaz

A Manchester City academy graduate, Diaz struggled for opportunities at Madrid and decided to join AC Milan on loan ahead of 2020-21.

He eventually became a key player for Stefano Pioli’s side, registering four goals and four assists in 27 Serie A appearances as they finished second behind Inter Milan.

According to Sky Italy, Milan want to extend the loan deal for another season and also include an option to buy at €20million.

Borja Mayoral

Mayoral returned from his two-year loan spell at Levante in 2020, only to then be immediately sent out to Serie A side Roma on a two-year loan deal.

The striker mainly operated as back-up to Eden Dzeko but still enjoyed the most productive season of his career, scoring 17 goals in 26 starts in all competitions.

He’ll link up with former Madrid boss Jose Mourinho at the Stadio Olimpico next season before making a decision on his long-term future in 2022.

Takefusa Kubo

Nicknamed the Japanese Messi, Kubo looked to continue his development at Villarreal but made just two La Liga starts for the Yellow Submarine. 

After being recalled by his parent club in January, the 20-year-old then headed to Getafe and made a brilliant first impression on his debut. 

He also found starts hard to come by at Getafe but did score a crucial late winner against Levante as they narrowly avoided relegation.

READ: ‘Japanese Messi’ Takefusa Kubo only needed 30 mins to shine at Getafe

Jesus Vallejo

After spending the second half of 2019-20 on loan at fellow La Liga side Granada, Vallejo returned to the club for another season.

The centre-back made 37 appearances in all competitions in 2020-21 but struggled with inconsistency and made some costly errors.

During the season, he received a red card against Barcelona in La Liga and also scored an own goal against Manchester United in the Europa League quarter-final.

Luka Jovic

Signed from Eintracht Frankfurt in 2019, Jovic failed to replicate the form he had shown in the Bundesliga and has scored just two goals for Madrid.

The striker returned to Frankfurt on loan in January 2021 and seemed to rediscover his scoring boots, coming off the bench to score a brace on his first appearance.

But he failed to dislodge star striker Andre Silva and only netted two more goals in his final 17 appearances of the season.

Martin Odegaard

Having impressed on loan at Real Sociedad in 2019-20, Odegaard grew frustrated at his lack of first-team opportunities at Madrid in the first half of 2020-21.

The Norway international then decided to follow in Ceballos’ footsteps, joining Arsenal on a six-month loan deal in January 2021.

Despite only starting 14 games, he showed glimpses of brilliance and cemented himself as a fans’ favourite by scoring his first Premier League goal in a 2-1 win over Tottenham.


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