Real Madrid star rejected club's offer to buy out final year of contract and leave this summer - Reports
Real Madrid defender Jesus Vallejo was reportedly offered payback by the club for the remaining year of his contract. However, the Brazilian declined the offer and will stay on for the season.
Vallejo, 27, has been a fringe player for Los Blancos, scoring one in 31 outings across competitions since his first-team debut in the 2017-18 season.
Having arrived at Los Blancos nearly a decade ago, Vallejo has spent multiple loan stints away from the club, and things aren't likely to change on that front any time soon.
That's because as per Relevo's Rodra (via Madrid Xtra), Los Blancos offered to pay out his final year, but Vallejo 'rejected' that and is now set to remain at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Having not yet appeared this season for Carlo Ancelotti's side, Vallejo could be set for a long spell warming the bench, as he's seemingly surplus to requirement.
Los Blancos have had a quiet start to the season. They opened the new campaign with a 2-0 win over reigning UEFA Europa League champions Atalanta in Warsaw, with Federico Valverde and new signing Kylian Mbappe scoring the goals.
However, they have stuttered in their La Liga title defence, drawing 1-1 at Mallorca before beating Real Valladolid 3-0 at home. They then drew 1-1 at Las Palmas before blanking Real Betis 2-0 at home, with Mbappe scoring both goals to open his top-flight account.
Ancelotti's side next take on Real Sociedad away in La Liga on September 14 when league action resumes after the international break.
"We are thinking of giving players in-season breaks" - Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has said that the club are considering giving their players in-season breaks, considering their hectic schedules.
If Los Blancos - or any top club for that matter - go deep in multiple competitions in a season, they play well over 50-55 games, which put a toll - both physical and mental - on players. Ancelotti said (as per the BBC)
"The players need rest, they need holidays, and we are thinking about giving individual holidays to the players during the season..
"We are thinking about giving in-season breaks, give a week off for a player so he can go and stay with his family, especially international players, who have very little rest because they usually don't get even a day's holiday in international breaks"
He added:
"We are assessing it with the medical staff and the physical preparation."
Real Madrid won three titles last season, including the La Liga-UEFA Champions League double.