Coentrao receives first fine of 2013

All members of the Real Madrid squad returned to training on 1st January, except one, Fabio Coentrao. The Portuguese failed to attend the club's training session and will be fined accordingly.



Coentrao is out injured, but isn't exempt from returning to training along with the rest of the squad after the Christmas break. The Portuguese full-back has been struggling with injury since the start of the season. He took a knock during the game against Espanyol and was seen stretching on the pitch throughout. He failed to recover in time for the last game of the year against Malaga.



The Portuguese full-back isn't having a great season. In gameweek two, against Getafe, he was suspended for four games for insulting the match referee, Pérez Lasa.



Injured whilst on international duty with Portugal, he's barely featured in the first team this season, although he did open his scoring account for the season against Espanyol in the Bernabeu.

Coentrao hasn't ruled out a move

Fabio Coentrao is going to reconsider his future at the end of the season. The Portuguese left-back isn't ruling out a move despite the fact that he still has four years left on his contract. Indeed, there are several reasons that he’s thinking about changing his career path.



Between injuries and taking longer than usual to settle down at the club, he hasn’t connected well with fans and hasn't been able to shine as he did with Benfica. Expectations from the €30 million that he cost the club have also weighed him down.



The player himself has told teammates and technical staff that he'd like to be playing better and that he's not happy with how he's performing. Real Madrid’s interest in Gareth Bale could also have an influence in that Coentrao could have more competition if the Welshman joins the club.



The Portuguese international’s future could include a spell in London. Chelsea, a club that tried to sign him in the past, is still interested in acquiring his services. The Blues recently decided not to extend the contract of their current left-back Ashley Cole, which ends this season.



As with all international players, Coentrao is already looking ahead to the 2014 World Cup and, although he's considered indispensable by manager Paulo Bento, it’s known within his club that he’d like to get more time on the pitch.