As the summer approaches, Real Madrid face a crucial juncture with potential arrivals and departures in their left-back position.
Real Madrid are one of the most dominant teams in world football, and their dominance has a lot to do with how they do their transfer business. Los Blancos are known for making harsh decisions and letting their stars leave while they are still performing at a high level.
More often than not, those decisions have worked in their favour as they tend to replace those players with young stars who are still on the rise. As the summer approaches, they have a few key decisions to make.
While the potential arrival of Kylian Mbappe will be a huge boost for them, they could have a major conundrum in the left-back position with the possibility of having four top-class left-backs to choose from.
The Spanish giants already have Ferland Mendy and Fran Garcia in their ranks, and Alphonso Davies could join them in the summer along with Miguel Gutierrez. Real Madrid are unlikely to keep more than two left-backs which means they will have to make a few big decisions.
A possible departure for Ferland Mendy
After making a name for himself at Lyon, Ferland Mendy arrived at Real Madrid in the summer of 2019. He took over from Marcelo and became the mainstay of the team. He had an impressive start to life in Madrid and even helped them win the Champions League.
However, injuries have not been kind to him. Over the past few seasons, he has missed quite a few games because of his injuries. While he is only 28 and has quite a few years left in him, Real Madrid are not so certain about him being their preferred choice at left-back.
That is why he has not been offered a new deal yet. His current contract runs out in the summer of 2025 and with just over a year left on his deal, there is a high possibility of them looking to sanction his departure. However, it will depend on the potential arrival of Alphonso Davies from Bayern Munich.
Alphonso Davies to be Real Madrid’s new 1st choice left-back
Alphonso Davies has been linked with a move to Real Madrid over the past few months, and there is a high possibility that he ends up joining them ahead of next season. He has been performing at the highest level for years now but he is only 23 and has almost a decade left at the very top.
The Canadian international is one of the best left-backs in the world, and Real Madrid will love to have him in their ranks. As per reports, the player wants to join the Spanish club and has no intentions of penning down a new deal at Bayern Munich.
His contract with the German giants runs until the summer of 2025. With just over a year left on his deal, Bayern do not really have many options to play with. If he does not put pen to paper before the end of the season, they could either sell him to the highest bidder or risk losing out on one of their most prized possession for free next summer.
Real Madrid are interested in having him in their ranks and are looking to a move in the summer. Since Marcelo parted ways with the club, they have not been able to find an ideal replacement. While Mendy has done a great job, he is not really an attacking full-back. As a result, Davies could be a great addition to their ranks. And, if does arrive, he will undoubtedly be a regular starter.
Fran Garcia’s current status & his future at the club
Mendy’s struggle with injuries meant Real Madrid needed another left-back. Eduardo Camavinga was used as a full-back on numerous occasions last season. While he did a great job playing out of position, Carlo Ancelotti wanted a new left-back because he did not want to use the midfielder as a left-back in the 2023-24 season.
That is why they brought Fran Garcia back to the club. The Real Madrid academy product had shown great signs of progress during his time at Rayo Vallecano and they decided to bring him back to add depth.
He was brought in to provide cover for Mendy and has done an exceptional job so far. While Garcia is unlikely to be the preferred choice any time soon, his contract runs until the summer of 2027 and unless their plans change, he is expected to stay at the club for next season.
Miguel Gutierrez’s potential return
With Fran Garcia expected to continue at the club as a backup, one would wonder why Real Madrid would even consider the idea of re-signing Miguel Gutierrez. While there is no place for him in Los Blancos’ squad, they are still expected to exercise the buy-back clause.
The Real Madrid youth product has been in sensational form this season. He has featured in 32 games in all competitions and has contributed towards seven goals. His impressive performances have attracted a lot of interest.
While his contract with Girona runs until the summer of 2027, he is unlikely to stay there beyond this season. There is a a release clause worth around €30 million which could lead to his departure. But, things could get difficult for interested clubs if Real Madrid decide to bring him back.
They have a buyback clause worth only €8 million. If they do not trigger it, they will still earn 50% from the player’s potential sale. However, Los Blancos will prefer bringing him back and negotiating his departure as it will not only increase their profit but it will also give the option of adding another buy-back clause which can help them bring him back in case he goes on to do wonders in the future.
