Four Real Madrid players who could leave in January | OneFootball

Real Madrid may be sitting comfortably at the top of La Liga and remain strong contenders in Europe, but beneath the club’s success lies a group of players whose futures appear increasingly uncertain.

For different reasons – from lack of minutes to long-term planning – several names could be on the move once the January transfer window opens.

Here are four players who may not finish the season in white.

Endrick – Looking for chances

Endrick arrived at Real Madrid surrounded by expectation and excitement. However, a little over a year into his European journey, things have anything but easy.

After having had limited action under Carlo Ancelotti last season, the Brazilian prodigy has not played a single competitive minute for Los Blancos.

When Kylian Mbappe was injured in Madrid’s last match against Villarreal, manager Xabi Alonso chose to replace him with Rodrygo. That decision sent a clear message: Endrick is not yet part of Real Madrid’s immediate plans.

Even more concerning for him, he has not been called up by Brazil since March – a worrying sign for a player once seen as the national team’s next No. 9. With Brazil currently lacking a traditional striker and the World Cup less than a year away, he knows he must find regular football to have any hope of making the squad.

A loan move in January, perhaps within La Liga or to a smaller European side, could be essential for him to regain rhythm and confidence before next summer.

Dani Ceballos – Out of the rotation

Ceballos came close to leaving in the summer. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)

Few players at Real Madrid have shown as much patience as Dani Ceballos, but that patience could start to wear thin soon.

Despite starting three of Real Madrid’s last four fixtures, he remains at the bottom of the midfield pecking order behind Jude Bellingham, Fede Valverde, Eduardo Camavinga, Aurelien Tchouameni and Arda Guler – and could again lose prominence.

With Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dani Carvajal both close to returning from injury, Valverde is expected to return to midfield. Bellingham, too, is expected to feature more regularly, having worked on his fitness during the international break, further reducing Ceballos’ chances.

Ceballos came close to joining Marseille in the summer, but the move collapsed. But he remains in search of consistent minutes ahead of next year’s World Cup.

If he remains a fringe player at the Santiago Bernabeu into December, a January exit -permanent or on loan – would make sense for all parties.

Gonzalo Garcia – The young gun with ambition

Not enough minutes despite starring at Club World Cup. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

Few young forwards in Spain possess as much potential as Gonzalo Garcia. After winning the Golden Boot at the Club World Cup in July with four goals in six matches, he was expected to feature more prominently.

Yet, the 21-year-old striker has managed only 101 minutes for Real Madrid so far this term, partly due to Mbappe’s unstoppable form.

Gonzalo continued to show his talent and potential with strong performances with Spain’s Under-21 side, including a goal and an assist against Norway last week.

In a recent interview, Gonzalo made his ambitions clear: ““I always aim for the top. Being able to represent my country in a World Cup… It’s a dream. As it would be for any other player.”

Clubs in Spain and across Europe are interested in taking him on loan. A temporary move could be the key to convincing Spain coach Luis de la Fuente that he deserves a senior call-up.

David Alaba – The veteran’s final chapter

Time to bid adieu? (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)

At 33 and struggling with recurring injuries, David Alaba’s time at Real Madrid may be nearing its end.

The Austrian barely played last season after returning from an ACL injury that kept him out for over a year. This time around, he has started just one match – the Champions League tie against Kairat Almaty in Kazakhstan.

Alaba’s contract runs until 2026 and there are no plans to renew his contract, as things stand. But Real Madrid may decide to sell him early to get some funds and reinvest in a younger centre-back next summer.

The Austrian has made 119 appearances since joining from Bayern Munich in 2021, but the physical toll has been evident. Given the club’s growing emphasis on youth and financial sustainability, a January departure looks plausible.