Real Madrid captain Nacho Fernandez is poised to leave the club after a remarkable 23-year tenure, with his contract expiring this summer. The 34-year-old’s departure seems imminent as his current deal with the club comes to an end.
This scenario mirrors last summer when Nacho was also on the brink of exiting, only to make a last-minute decision to stay. This year, he once again appeared to be grappling with uncertainty about his future.
However, having recently led Real Madrid to both the Champions League and La Liga titles as captain, Nacho seems to feel he has accomplished all he set out to achieve at the club.
Despite his previously stated desire to remain a one-club man and retire at the Santiago Bernabeu, it appears his aspirations may no longer align with staying at Real Madrid. Even Carlo Ancelotti’s late appeal for Nacho to extend his stay seems to have been ineffective.
Initially, Nacho had shown a strong interest in moving to Major League Soccer (MLS). However, according to Marca, he is now close to finalizing a deal with Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia. This move would reunite him with former teammate Karim Benzema, who also joined the Saudi club.
Nacho is expected to sign a two-year contract, earning €20 million per year. Over the course of this contract, he will accumulate an additional €29 million compared to his current Real Madrid earnings. Notably, Real Madrid did extend an offer for him to continue at the club, but it seems Nacho has chosen a different path.
Nacho’s departure marks the end of an era at the Bernabeu. He has been a beloved figure among his teammates and club staff alike.
Throughout his career with Real Madrid, he has amassed an impressive 27 trophies, including a Segunda B title with the club’s reserve team, Castilla. This substantial haul of silverware underscores his significant contributions to the club over the years.
As Nacho prepares to leave, Real Madrid faces the task of filling the void left by his departure. So far, the club has not taken any concrete steps to replace him.
However, their preferred option is reportedly the signing of Lille defender Leny Yoro. The search for a suitable replacement underscores the importance of Nacho’s role at the club, both on and off the pitch.
