Didac Aguirre Footballers Real Madrid didn't renew and left for free, from Modrić to Luis Enrique
All the players Real Madrid has let go for free after not renewing their contracts
Throughout its history, Real Madrid has had countless players who have achieved great feats as Madridists. However, there have also been cases of players who, despite their achievements, ended up leaving the club for free. Some of the most famous cases are those of Emilio Butragueño, Fernando Morientes, and Luka Modric.
Although it is not common to witness the departure of players as free agents, there are occasions when the team allows this. Whether due to a poor relationship between parties or simply because the player is seeking other challenges, these departures do happen. In the 95/96 season alone, Butragueño and Rafa Martín Vázquez left as free agents.
According to Defensa Central, Rüdiger and Alaba could join the long list of players who have left as free agents. Both center-backs, despite the great moments they have had at the club, are in the final year of their contracts. Given the renewal of the backline that the team is looking to carry out, the departures of Rüdiger and Alaba are seen as necessary.
Real Madrid's free agents
The 96/97 season saw the departures of Luis Enrique, Laudrup, Luis Miguel Ramis, and Antonio Gómez as free agents. The 97/98 campaign saw García Calvo and Rafael Akorta, while the 98/99 season only saw the departure of Santiago Cañizares. During the 99/00 season, Roberto Rojas, Roberto Jarni, Pedro Contreras, and Manuel Tena left the team.
Two years later, Perica Ognjenovic and Júlio César left, while the 02/03 season saw the departure of Aitor Karanka and Elvir Baljic. One of the most important departures was that of Fernando Hierro, who left just a year later for Al-Rayyan. After the center-back, in the 05/06 campaign, Luis Figo said goodbye to Bernabéu to sign for Inter.
It was not until the 09/10 season that Real Madrid said goodbye to other stars, in this case Van Nistelrooy and Cannavaro. A year later, Raúl and Guti left, and the 13/14 campaign saw the departure of Kaká. In the 15/16 season Casillas left for Porto, in 17/18 Pepe for Besiktas, and last season Luka Modric for AC Milan.
Departures from Bernabéu
Although this list is much longer, it is clear that departures as free agents are not usual at Real Madrid. Its legends, as in the case of Kroos, prefer to say goodbye at the club or leave before the end of their contract. The question that remains, for now, is whether Rüdiger or Alaba will join the list or leave earlier.
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