In the last three seasons, Real Madrid has only made 25 million euros from player sales. A meagre amount compared to the 377 million spent on signings during the same period. The conclusion is clear: the players do not want to leave Valdebebas. This summer, the club's rebuilding attempt will once again face the same obstacle.
Dani Carvajal, David Alaba, and Antonio Rüdiger are the three players whose contracts are expiring with the white team. In fact, the captain is awaiting a discussion about his future, the Austrian already knows he will not renew, and the German is close to extending for another season. These are necessary and relatively easy negotiations: if the club wants, the player stays.
The challenging discussions for the Madrid management are with those players under contract who are not in the club's plans. Players who, away from the Bernabéu, will likely find more playing time but with lower wages and less media attention. Few, if any, want that. This issue was faced with Vallejo or Mariano, but also with more high-profile players who only left when their contracts expired, like Bale, Asensio, or Jovic.
The case of Ceballos is a perfect example. Madrid has been trying to find a way out for the Utrera-born player for several summers, but no negotiation has been successful because the numbers did not add up for the player. The last attempt was last year with Olympique de Marseille, where an agreement between clubs was reached but not with the player, who would have had to lower his salary if he signed with the French club.
Ceballos' contract ends in 2027, just over a year from now, so this summer is Madrid's only chance to get a financial return. The same goes for Fran García, whose contract with the club also expires in June 2027. The left-back, who returned to Madrid in 2023, has been on the verge of leaving in recent months and even agreed to a move to Bournemouth in winter, but at that time, Real Madrid could not afford it due to Mendy's injury.
More complicated is the situation with Asensio. The Canary Islander renewed a few months ago until 2031, increasing his salary from the previous agreement. The club is disappointed with the defender due to issues he had with Arbeloa this season, leading to him being left out of the squad on several occasions for tactical reasons.
Madrid, looking to sign a centre-back, also has Militao, Huijsen, and Rüdiger in that position, placing Asensio a step below the others. At 23 years old, Valdebebas believes they can secure a good amount for him.
The last player, and the most debated, is Camavinga. The Frenchman has several years left on his contract with Madrid, until 2029, and despite a tough year, he is highly regarded in European football. At 23, he could be a significant sale for the club, but internally, there is a debate on whether to continue trusting him or use him as a source of income to revamp the midfield. However, it seems unlikely as sources close to Camavinga confirm that he has no intention of leaving Valdebebas. He is happy in Madrid, well-liked in the dressing room, where he has a "brotherly" relationship with Vinicius Junior, and his contract is long enough for him not to consider an exit.
Aware of the situation, Madrid has a dual task. Firstly, deciding whether to continue investing in the player's development, which currently seems stagnant, and secondly, if not, convincing him that a change of scenery could be best for his career. Something they failed to do with other players before. Valdebebas believes there are Premier League teams willing to match Camavinga's salary and want to see how high the transfer fee could go.
The list of departures, along with the coaching debate, is currently the main dilemma at Valdebebas as the club embarks on a seven-game journey to the end of the season.