The uncomfortable reality of Rodrygo, Militão and Mendy’s contracts

The recent performances of Rodrygo, Éder Militão, and Ferland Mendy at Real Madrid have led to questions about the future of their contracts. The trio all started in the 2024 UEFA Super Cup victory over Atalanta under Kylian Mbappé's leadership. However, their subsequent seasons have been marred by a series of injuries and absences.

Militão has missed a staggering 90 matches for club and country since the start of the 2024-25 season due to ACL injuries in both knees. Mendy has faced nine separate injuries and missed 55 matches for Real Madrid during the same period. Rodrygo has missed 30 matches and is expected to return to action in early 2027, following an ACL injury.

Currently, it is projected that Militão could return by late September or early October, while Mendy's return is expected towards the end of the year. Despite their significant contributions to Real Madrid's success, particularly during their double-winning campaigns of 2022 and 2024, their future roles within the squad remain uncertain.

The financial burden of their contracts, which run until June 30, 2028, is a concern for the club. Capology estimates that the combined annual salaries of Rodrygo, Militão, and Mendy, excluding bonuses, total €41.67 million, accounting for 14.12% of Real Madrid's 2026-27 salary bill and 16.13% for the 2027-28 season. With upcoming transfers like Yan Diomande, Ibrahima Konaté, Marc Cucurella, Dean Huijsen, and Álvaro Carreras, it seems unlikely that these three will have prominent roles beyond 2028, even if all are available.

While Real Madrid has a history of respect when it comes to player contracts, especially in cases of serious injuries, terminating contracts due to injuries appears to be an unrealistic option. The trio have played crucial roles in Real Madrid's success in recent years, but the reality now is that the club may have to bear the financial weight of their contracts while receiving limited sporting value in return.