Real Madrid get some relieving squad news before 2021-22 season

As Real Madrid fans bid farewell to their third departing legend of the summer and anxiously await news regarding a possible Galactic transfer up top, one of the more subtle storylines of the window has been the allocation of spots in the squad.

In LaLiga, teams are only allowed three players who are designed as “non-EU”, meaning they do not have passports to a country in the European Union. Currently, those three slots are filled by the young Brazilians at Real Madrid: Vinicius Junior, Eder Militao, and Rodrygo Goes.

Although Gareth Bale has been classified as an EU player traditionally as a Welsh international, Brexit caused the rumor mill to swirl that Bale could potentially be designated as a non-EU player. And of course, the rumor mill then had a field day with throwing around ideas that either young Brazilian winger Vinicius or Rodrygo would have to be loaned.

According to Goal.com’s Mario Cortegana, LaLiga has confirmed to Real Madrid that Gareth Bale will remain an EU player for the league’s bookkeeping purposes. Therefore, Los Blancos do not have to worry about juggling their three non-EU spots and can keep all three of Militao, Vinicius, and Rodrygo registered as first-team players.

Could Real Madrid squeeze Takefusa Kubo into the first team?

Bale remaining an EU player is a relief, but the story around the non-EU slots is not over yet. Because Vinicius is in the process of acquiring a Spanish passport. If that happens before the 2021-2022 season, then Vini would no longer count as one of the three designated non-EU players in Real’s first-team squad.

Why does that matter? Takefusa Kubo. The Japanese international is expected to go on another loan within LaLiga, hopefully with more minutes and a status reflecting his amazing performances in the Olympics.

But Kubo could even stay with Real Madrid if Carlo Ancelotti sees a role for him, as the right wing position is entirely wide open for Los Merengues. That pathway to the first team, however, is only open for Kubo if a third non-EU slot is open. That only happens if Bale is an EU player, which is going to be the case, and if Vini becomes one with a Spanish passport.

So going forward, don’t worry about Bale one bit. Just keep an eye on any news regarding Vini’s passport, as well as reports regarding Kubo or Ancelotti’s plans for the rising young star.