#4 Fabio Coentrao
Real Madrid paid €30 million to Benfica for Coentrao’s services back in 2011, on the back of impressive performances in the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The Portuguese left-back signed a staggering 6-year contract with the Spanish giants – which seemed an intelligent decision for the best young left back in the world in 2011 – but has come back to haunt Madrid.
In 5 and a half seasons at the club, Coentrao has only made a paltry 56 appearances, missing out on over 51 games due to injury – not even counting the year on loan he spent at AS Monaco. When he has played, Coentrao has looked decent enough, although his most recent appearances were error-strewn.
Zinedine Zidane clearly does not trust the player, giving him only 150 minutes on the pitch in 4 appearances this season. Coentrao’s worth is rated as €7 million by Transfermarkt – and there may be clubs willing to take a gamble on a player who is still only 28-years-old. What is a guarantee though, is that club won’t be Real Madrid, who will not offer him a contract extension.
