7 Real Madrid stars whose contracts expire in 2024 - and what the future holds
As Real Madrid continue to vie for trophies on multiple fronts, the prospect of losing some big names at the end of the season looms large.
Last summer, Los Blancos saw Karim Benzema opt against signing new terms at the Bernabeu, instead moving to Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League. Mariano Diaz and Marco Asensio also left on free transfers, joining Sevilla and Paris Saint-Germain respectively, while Eden Hazard announced his retirement after an injury-hit spell in the Spanish capital.
Results since then have remained steady, with Carlo Ancelotti's side ahead of rivals Barcelona but denied top spot in La Liga by surprise package Girona. Next summer is still looming large for some, though, with seven senior players - including two loanees - facing uncertain futures.
For the time being, the focus will be on the league and Champions League, where Ancelotti's men need a point at home to Napoli in their next game to secure top spot in their group. Those expiring contracts remain a consideration, though, and Mirror Football has taken a closer look at what lies in store for the seven men impacted.
Joselu
Veteran striker Joselu was signed on loan from Espanyol after Benzema's exit, with Madrid holding an option to buy. The striker, who struggled in the Premier League with Stoke and Newcastle, has five goals this season but there appears to be some uncertainty over his longer-term future.
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"Joselu provides guarantees in attack because he plays very well with his back and face and is very dangerous in the opposing area. We know what he can contribute," Ancelotti said after the striker bagged a winner against Real Sociedad in September. "It's an important position because we don't have any player with these characteristics and in past years we didn't have someone like that."
Joselu's own more recent comments echo those made by the manager. At 33, he is not a long-term solution, but a permanent switch could still give the club options in attack in the form of a player who is clearly happy to be at the Bernabeu.
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Joselu has already scored five times since joining Real Madrid on loan (ASSOCIATED PRESS)“Hopefully I can stay another year and continue to enjoy this. I know the role I can bring to the club," the veteran told El Partidazo de COPE (via AllFootball). "Not all clubs have a profile like the one I have, it’s very different to everything else out there.”
Kepa
Another loanee, Kepa's arrival came off the back of an ACL injury for Thibaut Courtois which will rule the Belgian out for most of the current season. The former Athletic Club number one has been a regular but suffered an injury of his own shortly before kick-off in the most recent Champions League win against Braga.
Kepa's parent club Chelsea already appear to have moved on from the 29-year-old Spain international, bringing in his younger compatriot Robert Sanchez and making him their first choice. Djordje Petrovic also joined the Blues over the summer, while Gaga Slonina is also in the pipeline, so Kepa could well be allowed to leave for the right price.
Real Madrid need to decide whether to make a permanent move for Kepa Arrizabalaga (Getty Images)According to reports from The Sun in October, that price could be as little as £17.5m. It would represent a significant loss for the Premier League club, who spent £71.6m to sign him in 2018, but would allow Real Madrid to provide healthy competition for Courtois as he works his way back from serious injury.
Toni Kroos
Kroos, who turns 34 in January, will bring up a decade as a Real Madrid player when the current season reaches its end. However, the German international's decision to ink a one-year extension last summer, rather than a two-year deal, felt to some like an admission he wanted to keep open the option of retiring in 2024.
"I've always said that I won't go anywhere," Kroos said in 2022. "I won't change clubs. I'll retire here. The only thing I don't know is when. I don't know what I think."
Toni Kroos is closing in on a decade with Real Madrid (Pressinphoto/REX/Shutterstock)Kroos has already called time on his international career, walking away from Germany duty after Euro 2020. He has achieved plenty in Madrid colours, winning three La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues, and few would begrudge him the decision to retire at the top.
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Luka Modric
Like his former teammate Benzema, Luka Modric had big-money offers last summer. Unlike the Frenchman, though, he opted to stay in Madrid.
After reports surfaced that he would say no to a mega-money offer, that indeed proved to be the case. After signing an extension until the summer of 2024, he has the opportunity to win an incredible sixth Champions League trophy.
Luka Modric turned down offers from elsewhere to stay in Madrid (Pressinphoto/REX/Shutterstock)There was always an expectation the Croatia star would feature less regularly this season, and that has proven the case with only a handful of starts in the league and two in Europe. With summer signing Jude Bellingham hitting the ground running, it feels like there is less need for the senior figures at the club to help the younger generation bed in, so Modric may well call time on his Madrid career in June.
Nacho
Another long-serving star, Nacho has spent his entire career with Real Madrid. The versatile defender made his debut back in 2011 and played his 300th game for Los Blancos last season.
Now 33, the Spanish international hasn't been a regular in the league this season with Toni Rudiger and David Alaba often starting together at centre-back. He remains an important senior figure, though, captaining Ancelotti's team in all four of their Champions League group outings after taking the armband from the departed Benzema.
Nacho has taken over as Real Madrid captain (Bagu Blanco/PRESSINPHOTO/REX/Shutterstock)“I walk alongside my family and the club," Nacho said after signing his extension. "You always receive offers from other clubs but I’ve decided to stay for another year and I’m happy with that decision. I am looking forward to staying in Real Madrid."
Nacho left it late to confirm his latest renewal, so any further extension might not be put into place until well into 2024. However, if Kroos and Modric aren't in Madrid next season, the club may well be keen to keep his experience for at least one more year.
Lucas Vazquez
Vazquez followed Nacho in making the step up from academy star to first-teamer. The full-back has joined his compatriot in racking up more than 300 first-team outings, famously putting away the first spot-kick in the penalty shoot-out which saw Real Madrid win the Champions League final in 2016.
Lucas Vazquez has spent his entire career with Real Madrid (Pressinphoto/REX/Shutterstock)The 32-year-old has been used sparingly this season, with his only league start coming in the team's only defeat so far, away to Atletico Madrid. He has started twice in the Champions League, though, demonstrating there is still some kind of role for him.
There were reports of interest from the Premier League when Vazquez stalled on a new contract in 2021. Ultimately, though, he opted to remain at the Bernabeu.
An option at right-back and on the right of midfield, the Spain international will know he's valued more for his versatility than as an immediate name on the teamsheet. Still, having spent his entire career with one club, he may well be keen to extend that stay if a suitable new contract offer arrives.
Andriy Lunin
Andriy Lunin saved an early Braga penalty in the Champions League (Alberto Gardin/IPA Sport/ipa-agency.net/REX/Shutterstock)At 24 years of age, goalkeeper Lunin may consider himself to be at a career crossroads. Real Madrid signed the Ukrainian when he was still a teenager, and Courtois' form means it has been hard for him to get minutes of any kind.
Since moving to the Bernabeu in 2018, Lunin has played more times out on loan than with his parent club. He gobbled up one of his first opportunities to impress this season, though, saving a penalty in the Champions League victory over Braga.
According to reports in Spain (via One Football), Lunin's displays this season - especially against Braga and in La Liga against Valencia - have the Real Madrid higher-ups considering offering Lunin a new deal. Whether he decides to fly the nest, though, is a different matter - especially if he sees Kepa offered a permanent deal which could leave him as third choice for another season.
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