Real Madrid star wants to stay amid reports of possible exit - Reports
Real Madrid centre-back Jesus Vallejo reportedly wants to remain at the club. The 27-year-old has been with the Madrid giants since the 2017-18 season.
Since then, he has appeared just 31 times across competitions, scoring once, spending loan spells at clubs like Real Zaragoza, Eintracht Frankfurt, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Granada CF.
Back at his parent club after the end of the 2023-24 season, Vallejo is part of the Los Blancos' squad that is on a pre-season tour of the United States. With one year left in his contract, there was talk of his departure this summer.
However, as per The Athletic (via Madrid Xtra), the 27-year-old wishes to remain with Los Blancos even though there's no guarantee of a change in fortunes for the Spaniard in terms of increased game time.
Vallejo last played for Los Blancos in the 2022-23 campaign, appearing four times across competitions, logging in 88 cumulative minutes. The 27-year-old is one of 10 defenders chosen by boss Carlo Ancelotti for the US pre-season tour.
It's pertinent to note that new signing Kylian Mbappe, Eduardo Camavinga, Dani Carvajal, Ferland Mendy and Aurelien Tchouameni are not in the pre-season squad because of their deep run at Euro 2024.
While Carvajal's Spain won the tournament, the four other Real Madrid players featured for France, who lost 2-1 to eventual winners La Roja in the semi-final.
What's next for Real Madrid?
Real Madrid commenced their 2024-25 pre-season on Wednesday (July 31) with a 1-0 loss to AC Milan at Soldier Field in Chicago. Samuel Chukwueze scored the only goal of the game in the 55th minute.
Next up, Carlo Ancelotti's side take on arch-rivals Barcelona on Sunday (August 3) at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Los Blancos wind up their short pre-season trip with a clash with Premier League side Chelsea three days later at the Bank of America Stadium in North Carolina.
The reigning La Liga and UEFA Champions League winners commence their new campaign against Atalanta in the UEFA Super Cup in Warsaw on August 14 before visiting Mallorca four days later for their La Liga opener.