There is a problem at Valdebebas, Real Madrid’s huge training centre: the players are doing well and really do not want to leave. This is shown by the news, but also by the recent history of Florentino Pérez’s club: over the last three seasons, in fact, Real Madrid have earned just 25 million euros from player sales. A modest figure, especially when compared with the 377 million spent on new signings over the same period. As reported by El Mundo, the very same problem is arising ahead of the next summer transfer window: Carvajal, Alaba and Rüdiger are all out of contract, and only the German centre-back seems (fairly) certain to sign a renewal; besides them, there are quite a few players who have already been excluded — more or less officially — from the next technical project, and yet they would rather stay in Madrid and wait for their agreement to expire naturally.
The most emblematic case is that of Dani Ceballos: Real have been trying for several summers to find him a new destination, but without success; the economic conditions offered by other clubs, in fact, have never convinced the player. The latest attempt, with Olympique de Marseille, ran aground despite an agreement between the clubs, precisely because Ceballos — tied to Madrid by a contract that expires in 2027 — had been asked to reduce his salary. Fran García is in the same situation too: also out of contract in 2027, he came close to leaving in recent months and had even accepted a move to Bournemouth, which then fell through because of Ferland Mendy’s injury. Then of course Real Madrid also play their part: Raúl Asencio has signed a renewal until 2031, accepting a higher salary, but now the club seem intent on selling him — also because the defence is built around Éder Militão, Dean Huijsen and Rüdiger. In this case too, however, it is extremely difficult to find a club that can meet the player’s high demands.
Finally, but not in order of importance, there is the case of Eduardo Camavinga. We are talking about a player who is only 23 and has many admirers in Europe, beyond a complicated season, and who could therefore be a good outgoing deal — above all to finance the renewal of the midfield. The problem is that the former Rennes player has absolutely no intention of leaving Madrid, where he earns a very high salary and where he feels comfortable; moreover, he is very attached to the dressing room and in particular to Vinícius Júnior.
When you think about it, this is precisely the point of the matter: away from the Santiago Bernabéu, many Madrid players could probably find more space, but in exchange for lower salaries and less media exposure. Both conditions, to use a euphemism, are difficult to accept. And indeed recent history is full of entirely similar cases: think of Jesús Vallejo and Mariano Díaz, but also of more established profiles such as Gareth Bale, Marco Asensio and Luka Jović. All of them did everything possible, and more, to stay in Madrid until the final day of their contract. Hard to blame them, when you think about it.