Real Madrid makes some cash with squad moves for new season

While Barcelona was working to keep Lionel Messi, defending champion Real Mrid was quietly making moves to get rey for Spanish league.

With transfer of James Rodrguez to Everton me official on Monday, Mrid reportedly reached nearly 90 million euros (USD 106 million) in profits through a busy period in which it reorganised its squ.

club loaned and sold several players who coach Zinedine Zidane was t planning to use this season, with only major question mark remaining over wher Gareth Bale will stay for yet ar season.

Bale and Rodrguez didn't get many minutes under Zidane last season and were alrey expected to be transferred. Mrid reportedly pocketed 25 million euros (USD 26 million) for Rodrguez, and Spanish media said club was willing to sell Wales forward for about same price.

31-year-old Bale, whose last Spanish league goal with Mrid was in September 2019, has a contract with club until 2022. He opted t to play in return leg against Manchester City in round of 16 of Champions League and reportedly also wouldn't mind leaving, though only if Mrid facilitated his transfer. 

forward has one of top salaries at Real Mrid.

In dition to Rodrguez's sale, Mrid also transferred right back Achraf Hakimi to Inter Milan for a reported fee of 40 million euros (USD 47 million). 

It reportedly earned more than 13 million euros (USD 15 million) from transfer of youngster scar Rodrguez to Sevilla, and also profited from sales of some lesser kwn players who were t likely to have in main squ, including Javi Snchez, Dani Gmez and Alberto Soro.

Hakimi was coming back from a loan with Borussia Dortmund. Young Japan forward Takefusa Kubo also was on a loan, with Mallorca, and this season was sent to Villarreal. 

Goalkeeper Alphonse Areola returned to Paris Saint-Germain after a stint with Mrid. Reinier will play on a loan with Dortmund, as will Brahim Diaz with AC Milan and Jess Vallejo with Grana.

Promising youngster Martin Odegaard finished his spell with Real Socied and is expected to stay with Mrid to help make up for absence of Rodrguez at midfield.

It's still unclear wher Mrid will keep defender Sergio Reguiln, who returned from a loan with Sevilla. Reguiln me his Spain debut in Nations League this weekend, but he sustained a left ankle injury that could reduce Mrid's options to loan or sell him.

Mrid's recent moves came as Barcelona worked to keep Messi after Argentine great said he wanted to leave. Messi eventually changed his mind after club said it would t allow his transfer. re were also doubts over future of striker Borja Mayoral, who was on a loan with Levante, and Maria Daz, who h few chances last season.

Mrid, which in July won its first league title in three years, will start new season in less than two weeks at Real Socied. club's first match against Getafe was postponed because Mrid played in Champions League.

Mrid is still expected to host matches without fans at Alfredo Di Stfa Stium at team's training center while Santiago Bernabu Stium remains under revation.

Im credits: AP