Real Madrid have some big decisions to make this summer about the players who have entered the final year of their contracts.
One of the most powerful clubs in the world, Real Madrid are regularly evolving with fresh talent, but that could mean the end of the road for some existing players.
Six members of the squad Xabi Alonso has inherited from Carlo Ancelotti are only contracted until the end of the 2025-26 season – as things stand.
Here, TEAMtalk takes a look at what the future might hold for them.
David Alaba
Appearances last season: 14
Goals last season: 0
Weekly salary: €432,692
Annual salary: €22.5m
Real Madrid signed David Alaba on a free transfer in 2021 after his time at Bayern Munich came to an end. Now, they have to decide whether to sell him this year or let him leave in 2026 on the same terms they signed him by.
The last couple of years have been frustrating for Alaba because of injury issues, without which he would have been an extremely useful asset thanks to his versatility.
But the Austria international is now 33 years old and his recent injury history may work against him if he wants a new contract.
In contrast, his leadership is a factor in his favour.
Raul Asencio
Appearances last season: 46
Goals last season: 0
Weekly salary: €120,192
Annual salary: €6.25m
Raul Asencio’s case is a delicate one due to the legal issues he is embroiled with.
On the pitch, last season was his first in the senior team for Real Madrid. After playing for the Castilla side initially, he made his first-team debut in November.
His performances have put him in contention to earn a new deal at the Bernabeu, with Madrid triggering an option to prolong his stay.
Asencio is expected to be contracted until 2031 per the new arrangement, which has been reported since mid-June but not announced.
Dani Carvajal
Appearances last season: 12
Goals last season: 1
Weekly salary: €200,385
Annual salary: €10.42m
Back in October, Real Madrid extended Carvajal’s contract for an extra year, despite the right-back suffering an ACL injury.
Carvajal was an outside candidate for the 2024 Ballon d’Or due to Madrid’s achievements, but his injury meant he had to wait until the Club World Cup semi-final in July to make his first appearance of 2025.
Madrid have signed Trent Alexander-Arnold as a new right-back for next season and the former Liverpool player will be the regular starter should all go to plan. But the 33-year-old Carvajal would be worth keeping around as a backup.
“My sports career is already nearing the end,” he admitted in May. “I hope not, but I have to be realistic.”
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Thibaut Courtois
Appearances last season: 53
Goals conceded last season: 63
Weekly salary: €288,462
Annual salary: €15m
Courtois has completed his seventh season at Real Madrid since returning to Spanish football in 2018. He reclaimed his no.1 role last season after injury kept him out for large portions of 2023-24.
Still one of the best goalkeepers in the world on his day, Courtois has conceded fewer goals than the number of games he has played in his Madrid career.
Courtois turned 33 in May, but could be another example of a goalkeeper who enjoys a longer and later prime than his outfield peers.
Madrid will have to monitor his form and come up with a succession plan at some point, but the Belgium international could be sticking around at the Bernabeu.
Antonio Rudiger
Appearances last season: 55
Goals last season: 3
Weekly salary: €280,385
Annual salary: €14.58m
Like Alaba a year before him, Antonio Rudiger was a smart Bosman signing by Real Madrid to strengthen their defence.
And the former Chelsea man has proven his reliability, putting his name to more than 100 appearances for Los Blancos.
Although he is now 32, Rudiger is a strong candidate to remain at Madrid. In fact, reports earlier this year claimed the club could break from tradition and offer him a two-year renewal, rather than just a one-year extension.
Reinier
Appearances last season: 25 (on loan at Granada)
Goals last season: 1
Weekly salary: €13,846
Annual salary: €720,000
Madrid have bought well from the Brazilian market in recent years, most notably with Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo.
In 2019, they spent €30m to sign Reinier from Flamengo, but the forward is still awaiting his first-team debut for Madrid.
He scored twice from three appearances for their Castilla side in 2019-20 before loan spells at Borussia Dortmund, Girona, Frosinone and Granada.
He spent last season in the Segunda Division with the latter and, having only scored once, it might be hard for the 23-year-old to break in back at his parent club.