Real Madrid finally set to sell 27-year-old who last played for the club in 2022-23 season: Reports
Real Madrid are willing to listen to offers for 27-year-old centre-back Jesus Vallejo this summer, according to AS. This comes in the wake of the player reportedly not being part of Carlo Ancelotti's plans for next season.
Los Blancos are believed to be keen on cashing in on the Spanish defender, who has been at the club since 2015. He joined from La Liga club Real Zaragoza for a transfer fee in the region of €6 million at the age of 18.
Despite the potential he possessed upon signing for Real Madrid in 2015, Vallejo hasn't been able to quite leave his mark at the Santiago Bernabeu. The 27-year-old centre-back has struggled to secure regular minutes with Los Blancos and has only managed to make a combined total of 31 appearances during his nine-year stint at the club.
Vallejo has also been subject to a series of loan spells away from Real Madrid since joining the club in 2015, such as at Real Zaragoza, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Eintracht Frankfurt, and Granada.
With his current deal expected to expire in 2025, Madrid are now prepared to cut their losses by cashing in on the defender rather than losing him for free next season.
It will be interesting to see which club will eventually sign Vallejo this summer amid Madrid's willingness to sell. He made just three appearances last season while on loan at Spanish club Granada.
Jesus Vallejo gave up his shirt number for Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham
The 27-year-old defender gave up his No. 5 shirt for Madrid star Jude Bellingham ahead of the 2023-24 football campaign following the midfielder's arrival from Borussia Dortmund.
Bellingham had previously worn the number 22 at his former club Dortmund but was handed the number 5 shirt which was voluntarily vacated by Vallejo.
In an interview with Radio Marca in July 2023, the Spaniard revealed that Bellingham did thank him for the kind gesture of letting him have his shirt number. He went on to label the English midfielder as a 'phenomenal guy' and said:
"He’s a phenomenal guy. Not only did he publicly thank me for giving him the number, he also thanked me every time we saw each other... Very good kid, and in the three or four days that I met him, the truth is that he looks like a very good player."
Bellingham would go on to hit a remarkable debut season for Los Blancos, registering 23 goals and 13 assists in 42 appearances across competitions.