Friday's loss in the UEFA Champions League might be the end of an era at Real Madrid, as Zinedine Zidane is reportedly open to see as many as nine players leaving Los Blancos this summer.
According to a report by As, the Spanish champions could see some of their most successful players of all time leaving the club, in an effort to rejuvenate their squad for the next few years. Some of those names were already known by the general Real Madrid fan, but others might come as a surprise since Zinedine Zidane has openly praised them even after some woeful performances.
The list, as you would expect, is topped by Gareth Bale and James Rodriguez. Bale and the Colombian ace have had very public rifts with Zidane, and while both players survived last season's cut, it seems that there will be no chance to see them wearing the white jersey next year.
Next on the list are four of Zidane's most trusted players over the years: Nacho, Isco, Lucas Vázquez and surprisingly, Marcelo. The Spanish footballers have only been used from time to time, mainly because they have not been as reliable as they were during Zizou's first stint. Isco and Vázquez have been tempted by other teams, while Nacho's future remains uncertain. Even so, leaving the club can no longer be ruled out by the player's inner circle.
As for Marcelo, the veteran may have seen his last season with the Spanish giants, as Ferland Mendy is now Zidane's top choice at left back. With his contract set to expire soon, Real Madrid may want to cash in on this footballer before they can only get pennies for his services.
Last, but not least, three strikers have been deemed as surplus to the team's requirements: Luka Jovic, Brahim Díaz, and Mariano Díaz. Out of these players, Brahim Díaz seems to be heading out on loan, as Zidane admits his skills could come in handy one day, but simply not now.
Jovic's case is quite interesting. After paying over $60M to Eintracht Frankfurt for his services, the player failed to establish himself as a reliable backup for Karim Benzema, scoring only twice this season. Added to that, his problems away from the pitch have reportedly forced Zizou to ask his bosses to listen to any offers for the footballer.
In regards to Mariano Díaz, the player was one of the least used players by Zidane, which may be seen as many as a sign of things to come. The player refused to leave the club last summer with his hopes set on changing Zidane's mind about him, but unfortunately for him, his future lies far away from the Bernabeu despite scoring one of the goals for Los Blancos against Barcelona in the most recent El Clásico.
