Players That Are Out Of Contract At The End Of The Season

With the 2022/23 season drawing to an end, players’ movement will become a huge talking point. There are certain big-name players including Lionel Messi and Luka Modric, who are still not sure where they will play their football next season. Let’s take a look at notable players out of contract with their respective clubs at the end of the season. 

Ilkay Gundogan

It is forgotten that at the start of the season, Gundagon seemed not to be in Pep Guardiola’s plans for the season. Since then he has transformed to be a key member of the Manchester City side that are on quest for the historic treble. With the German international trusted with the captain’s armband for the most part of the season, it becomes really hard for the club to let him go for now.

Last season, he had some offers from two Spanish giants, Barcelona and Real Madrid but ended up staying in England to fight for his place in the starting eleven. If City can be able to claim a historic UEFA Champions League title this season, Gundagon might feel he has achieved everything with the club as he has five league titles.

Luka Modric

Luka Modric’s contract was set to expire in June 2022 but Real Madrid opted to extend it by one year. At 37 years of age, Modric still remains the vital player in the Madrid set-up and doesn’t show signs of ageing as yet. There are suggestions that the club will want to keep him for another year. Besides that, the Croatian has been rumoured that clubs from Major League Soccer(MLS) are interested in his services. Nevertheless, Modrid had a wonderful spell with the Whites winning a record five UEFA Champions League titles and two league titles.

Karim Benzema

One of the oldest servants in the Real Madrid shirt. Karim Benzema is in his 14th year with the club since arriving as the young sensation from Lyon of France. Since then he has elevated his name into the club legends status. His wonderful form last season ensured Madrid claimed the UEFA Champions League title. At the age of 34, he might have the experience needed to succeed in Europe but the club has delayed in terms of handing him a new contract. There are some reported lucrative offers from the US and Saudi Arabia. 

Lionel Messi

One of the greatest players in football history, Lionel Messi is facing uncertainty about where he will play next season. Since joining Paris Saint-German in 2021, Messi hasn’t fully got the appreciation and respect from the club’s fans. The Argentinian superstar has been heavily criticised when the club is not performing. 

Despite being on course to deliver a second Ligue 1 title, Messi is going to be out of contract this season. Recently he has been heavily linked to the big money move to Saudi Arabia where he’s is tipped to revive his rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo. 

Toni Kroos

Toni Kroos has been a pillar of Real Madrid’s midfield for years since joining the club from Bayern Munich. During his tenure in the Spanish capital, he has won five UEFA Champions League titles under his name. That is a good achievement for a player bought for as little as $25 million. He is 33 years already and starting to slow down a little. His fruitful eight-year spell with Los Blancos could be coming to an end. The club has done an excellent job in terms of bringing youngsters like Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni to fill up Kroos’s role in the future. 

Roberto Firmino

Roberto Firmino is playing in his eighth season at Liverpool and the 2022-23‬ campaign may well be his last with the Reds as the club has announced. In the past, the Brazil star has been a fan-favourite due to the classic performances he has provided in the Reds shirts.

A handful of goals and a formidable deadly trio partnership with Mohammed Salah and Sadio Mane in the past got fans off their chairs. But since the arrival of big signing Darwin Nunez from Benfica, Firmino has been forced to be relegated to the bench. It remains to be seen where “Bobby” will head to as he got offers in Brazil, Europe and USA.