Real Madrid: 3 defenders who could leave the club in summer 2021

LB Marcelo

Another legendary Real Madrid player, Marcelo was once an invaluable member of the team and a weekly fixture at left back. He showed some signs of declining in 2019-2020, but he ended up being a quality contributor to the team down the stretch of the title-winning campaign. Marcelo was particularly excellent in the 2-0 Clasico triumph at the Santiago Bernabeu.

So Los Blancos kept him as the veteran backup to emerging star Ferland Mendy, who had usurped him in his first season from Lyon. But Marcelo’s play devolved in 2020-2021, as he quite literally cost the team matches with his defensive lapses. The 4-1 loss to Valencia at the Mestalla was a real low point for the Brazilian defender.

Real Madrid have Miguel Gutierrez rising up the ranks, and they could decide to buy Sergio Reguilon back from Tottenham Hotspur. Marcelo could be sold and his wages cleared, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Juventus being a natural landing spot.

Out of the three players on this list, Marcelo isn’t the most likely to leave, though. That’s because it may be difficult to find a willing transfer partner for the 32-year-old. But it’s also because Marcelo played extremely well in a more attacking role as a midfielder against Getafe, as Zinedine Zidane used a back three. The Brazilian was the Man of the Match in the 2-0 win and showed some real value in midfield. Once he returns from injury, Madridistas will watch closely to see if he gets more opportunities in a role away from left back.