5 Real Madrid legends who left on free transfers

Real Madrid have had a precarious history with free transfers. Although their acquisition of David Alaba represents one of the biggest coups in the history of free transfers, Los Blancos have certainly lost much more than they have gained.

The 34-time La Liga champions have a knack for signing big names for a significant amount of money and dispose of them once the players have served their purpose. Case in point: James Rodriguez's penniless departure to Everton in 2020. With most of their modern legends, either retired or defending a foreign badge, Real Madrid can still lose a lot more to free transfers.

Which players can exit Real Madrid on a free transfer in 2022?

While Los Merengues harbor the risk of losing utility wide-men Gareth Bale and Isco next season, a bigger danger looms over the Bernabeu. Club icon Marcelo, who was recently relegated to play second fiddle to Ferland Mendy in the left-back spot, will see his contract expire in 2022.

Luka Modric signed a one-year extension with Real Madrid, postponing the risk of losing him on a free transfer until next year.

Nevertheless, Karim Benzema, arguably their most important player right now, is yet to extend his current deal, which runs out in 2022. Reports suggesting a one-year addition to his existing contract, similar to Modric's, have surfaced recently. However, if Real Madrid were to lose their fifth all-time top-scorer, it would become a catastrophe for the Spanish giants.

The men in white have witnessed a hoard of players leave on free transfers, over the past two decades. Here, we take a look at 5 of the most influential Real Madrid players who have left the club in exchange for absolutely nothing.

Honorable mentions:

David Beckham to LA Galaxy (2007), Guti to Besiktas (2010), Michel Salgado to Blackburn Rovers (2009) and Luis Figo to Inter (2005),

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#5 Roberto Carlos to Fenerbahce (2007)

Roberto Carlos has been the subject of 5 free transfers in his career

In 1996, Real Madrid spent €6m to bring in a 23-year-old sturdy left-back to the Bernabeu. That deal turned out to be one of the most inspired pieces of transfer business conducted in the history of football. Roberto Carlos spent his next 11 years in Madrid, winning every trophy under the sun.

The Brazilian defender mustered a whopping 527 appearances for Los Blancos, even pitching in with 70 goals and 89 assists. Roberto Carlos possessed a rocket of a left foot, thundering in goals from the left-back position. He was widely known for his stupendous freekicks, famously scoring a belter from 38 yards out against France in 1997.

After playing an instrumental role in establishing Real Madrid's dominance in the early 2000s, Roberto Carlos secured a free transfer to Fenerbahce in 2007. Following a string of moves to numerous low-level clubs, including a brief stint with the now-defunct Delhi Dynamos in the Indian Super League, the legendary left-back retired in 2016.

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#4 Fernando Hierro to Al-Rayyan SC (2003)

Hierro's exit from Madrid is one of the most high profile free transfers ever

A Los Blancos legend of the yesteryear, Fernando Hierro joined Real Madrid in 1989 from Real Valladolid, for a nominal fee of €811k. What followed was an illustrious era in Madrid's history, during which the club won a total of 16 trophies.

Hierro was an unusual figure when compared to other defenders of his generation as he had a keen eye for goals. The Spaniard formed a formidable partnership with club legend Manolo Sanchís, inheriting the captain's armband after the latter's retirement. Hierro contributed with a colossal 126 goals during his 17 years at the club, including a career-best 21-goal haul in the 1991-92 season.

After notching up a record 601 appearances for Real Madrid at the time, the Spanish legend was acquired by Qatari outfit Al-Rayyan SC on a free transfer. In the process, Hierro became one of the first European superstars to ply their trades in the middle-east. At 53, the Real Madrid legend is now trying his hand at management, having most recently coached his national side at the 2018 World Cup.

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#3 Sergio Ramos to PSG (2021)

Ramos with his last title as a Real Madrid player before his free transfer to PSG

The most recent of the free transfers in the discussion, Sergio Ramos' move from Real Madrid to PSG was shrouded in controversy. A complicated series of events resulted in the veteran's departure after 16 years of loyal service at the Bernabeu. Sensing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, the French giants swooped in through the earliest possible window and secured Ramos on a free transfer.

In an emotional farewell, the former Madrid captain opened up about the confusion regarding his extension, stating:

"I never wanted to leave Real Madrid, I always wanted to stay here. It wasn't a financial problem. They offered me one year, I wanted two. I accepted the offer with a pay cut, and I was told there was no longer an offer. I was told that despite having given the OK to the proposal, it had an expiry date and I didn't realise ... It surprised me."

Sergio Ramos joins Lionel Messi as one of PSG's latest free transfers, bringing with him some much-needed defensive and leadership skills to the Parisians. Having guided Real Madrid to four Champions League trophies, Mauricio Pochettino will be hoping for similar fortunes at PSG after his arrival. The Ligue 1 giants are yet to taste European glory since their inception in 1970.

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#2 Raul to FC Schalke (2010)

Raul in a Europa League match for Schalke

Raul was the all-time top-scorer for Real Madrid with 324 strikes before a certain Cristiano Ronaldo came along and procured every single record for himself. Furthermore, the Spanish international, who earned 102 caps at senior level, was also his nation's leading goal-getter until David Villa usurped the said title in 2011.

Henceforth, Raul was a proper striker during his day, scoring for fun in every country he played. A graduate of La Fabrica, the prolific forward spent 18 years with Real Madrid, 16 of them contracted to the first team. During his career as a Los Blancos player, the Spaniard won an astonishing 16 pieces of silverware.

Having achieved several heights at the Bernabeu, Raul called it a day on his Real Madrid career in 2010. Following his exit from the club, the legendary striker secured a free transfer to Schalke.

Raul enjoyed another two years at the top with the German giants, winning the historic DFB-Pokal title in his debut season. He hung up his boots in 2015, following two free transfers to Al Sadd and New York Cosmos respectively.

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#1 Iker Casillas to FC Porto (2015)

Casillas won 19 trophies with Real prior to his free transfer to Porto

Widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers to ever lace a pair of boots, Iker Casillas is a Real Madrid legend through and through. The Spanish legend spent a mind-boggling 25 years at the Bernabeu after graduating from their famed academy. After 16 years of being contracted to the first team, Casillas bid a tearful adieu to the Madrid faithful as he joined Portuguese side FC Porto on a free transfer in 2015.

Following his domestic and continental debuts in the 1999-2000 season, Casillas became the youngest goalkeeper ever to play in and win a Champions League final. The veteran starred in a 3-0 win over a rampant Valencia, just four days after his 19th birthday. He never looked back after that historic win.

Casillas won all notable pieces of silverware with Real Madrid, captaining his side for five glorious seasons. Following a fall-out with Carlo Ancelotti, who preferred Diego Lopez to the 167-capped Spanish international, Casillas was shipped off to Porto on a free transfer. He subsequently retired in 2020, at the ripe old age of 39.

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