Real Madrid Face Transfer Standoff: No Offers for Mendy and Alaba Despite Club's Desire to Sell

Real Madrid Face Transfer Standoff: No Offers for Mendy and Alaba Despite Club's Desire to Sell

Madrid, Spain – July 28, 2025 – Real Madrid finds itself in a challenging position in the summer transfer window, with key players Ferland Mendy and David Alaba reportedly attracting no concrete offers despite the club's openness to their departures. Sources close to the club indicate that while both defenders have been made available, a lack of interested parties is complicating Real Madrid's efforts to balance their squad and potentially fund further acquisitions.

The situation is particularly pressing for Real Madrid, who have already invested significantly in defensive reinforcements this summer with the arrivals of Dean Huijsen, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Álvaro Carreras.1 This influx of talent, coupled with the continued presence of other defenders, has created an overcrowded backline, especially at left-back, where Mendy currently operates.

Ferland Mendy, a proven winner with two Champions League titles to his name at Real Madrid, is believed to be deemed "reasonably redundant" by the club. The emergence of Fran García, who impressed during the Club World Cup, and the €50 million signing of Álvaro Carreras, have provided manager Xabi Alonso with ample options at left-back. Despite Mendy's defensive solidity, his injury history and limited attacking contributions are cited as potential reasons for the club's desire to move him on. Reports suggest that the 30-year-old Frenchman, who missed 23 games last season due to various leg and muscle problems, is facing an uphill battle to find regular minutes.

David Alaba's situation is also complex. The Austrian international, who will turn 34 next year and has one year remaining on his contract until 2026, has reportedly been offered the chance to terminate his contract early with a partial payout. However, Alaba has firmly rejected this proposal, indicating his desire to see out his lucrative deal, which sees him as one of the club's highest earners. Alaba's significant salary and recent injury struggles, which saw him miss extended periods last season, make him a financially challenging prospect for potential suitors.2 With Éder Militão, Antonio Rüdiger, Raul Asencio, and new signing Dean Huijsen all vying for center-back positions, Alaba finds himself fifth in the pecking order, raising questions about his playing time if he remains.

Real Madrid's "Operation Departures" also reportedly includes other players like Rodrygo and Dani Ceballos, but the lack of movement for Mendy and Alaba is a particular concern.3 The club is keen to offload players to reduce their wage bill and free up space in the squad, which is currently capped at 25 players, preventing further registrations unless outgoings occur.4

While club sources remain calm, emphasizing that "the summer is long," the current transfer stalemate for Mendy and Alaba highlights the challenges top clubs face in offloading high-earning players, especially those with recent injury concerns or perceived redundancy due to new signings. As the transfer window progresses, Real Madrid will be hoping that offers for their out-of-favor defenders materialize to allow them to finalize their squad for the upcoming season.