Five players at Real Madrid have found themselves discarded as Carlo Ancelotti looks to continue the work that saw them win the La Liga and Champions League double last term.
Los Blancos have only signed two players so far this summer, with 11 stars departing either on loan or permanently. That means that Ancelotti has a thinned-down squad at his disposal this year, though he has been able to use 18 players in Madrid's first two games.
Despite that heavy rotation, five players have still found themselves without playing a single minute of competitive action. It appears they have been largely discarded from Ancelotti's plans for the time being. Here, Mirror Football takes a look at the players who Ancelotti has discarded with at the start of the new season.
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Andriy Lunin
Andriy Lunin has spent three years with Real Madrid, but has made just five appearances in that time. The Ukranian serves as the back-up keeper to Thibaut Courtois, with Ancelotti informing him that will be his squad role for the foreseeable future.
Courtois has started the current campaign as the undisputed first-choice between the sticks for Los Blancos. Lunin did not appear in the UEFA Super Cup win over Eintracht Frankfurt or on the opening day of the La Liga season.
While he has been linked with a departure from the Santiago Bernabeu, he is set to stay in Madrid. The birth of his new baby means that he feels settled in Spain and is reluctant to leave.
Jesus Vallejo
Though he played more of a bit-part role last year, Jesus Vallejo still started four of Madrid's final five La Liga games. But this season, he has remained on the bench, with Ancelotti so far refusing to use him.
But AS claim that he has done enough in pre-season to convince Ancelotti to keep him in his squad rather than send him on loan or sell him. With the Madrid boss set to rotate heavily, Vallejo is unlikely to go much longer without any minutes.
Alvaro Odriozola
Right-back Alvaro Odriozola came through the Real Sociedad academy before joining Madrid in 2018. He spent last season on loan at Fiorentina, making 27 appearances in all competitions.
But that appears to have done nothing to convince Ancelotti of his talent, with the Italian leaving him out of the squad for the Super Cup. Odriozola is the fourth-choice for his position and is unlikely to move ahead of Dani Carvajal, Lucas Vazquez or Vinicius Tobias in the pecking order.
According to AS, that has left him 'testing the market' given the lack of playing time on offer at the Bernabeu. Inter Milan and Nottingham Forest are both understood to be interested in the Spaniard, who looks set to move on.
Mariano
Having featured mainly as a substitute last season, Mariano has found few pathways into Ancelotti's plans. It is said that Ancelotti has never been a fan of the striker, despite him being the only natural centre forward in the squad besides Karim Benzema.
Rather than using Mariano though, Ancelotti has deployed Eden Hazard up-front when Benzema has been taken off. It is obvious that the 29-year-old will not receive any playing time this season, but he will stay to see out the final 12 months of his contract.
Marco Asensio
Perhaps the most shocking of Ancelotti's omissions has been Marco Asensio, who made 42 appearances for Los Blancos last season. But he is yet to appear this term, instead spending both of the first two games warming the bench.
The winger has frequently been linked with a departure this summer, with Liverpool one of the sides interested. Having been Madrid's third highest scorer last season, Ancelotti promised him a substantial role.
But those promises have not been honoured with Asensio not playing any minutes, despite him having been widely expected to feature against Almeria. With the World Cup coming up, he could leave the Bernabeu in search of game time.
