Should Real Madrid offload Nacho?

It's been just a week since FIFA hit Real Madrid with a transfer ban preventing the club from signing players in the summer of 2016 and the winter of 2017. The news immediately created a stir prompting thoughts that Los Blancos would divulge in a 2-week spending spree, bracing for an anticipated year-long transfer drought.

However, up to this point, nothing major has materialized and Zinedine Zidane is sticking to his guns, proclaiming that the ban is an "error" and that "it will be fixed." Despite the Frenchman's feelings, the transfer window rolls on and nothing is stopping other clubs from pursuing his players.

One of which being defender Nacho Fernandez.

According to reports, Napoli and Roma fancy the 26-year-old Spanish international and offered €8 million for his services. Now it's no secret that Los Blancos need to add another left fullback to their ranks therefore offloading Nacho seems counterproductive considering his versatility.

Nevertheless, since the Castilla graduate's first-team debut in 2011, he's failed to hold down a consistent place in the team. After becoming a full senior squad member in 2013, Nacho has logged less than 5,000 minutes and appeared in 71 matches.

Nacho is valuable in that he provides depth but he's never been seen as anything more than a stop-gap. Unfortunately, at Real Madrid he stands little to no chance in knocking a healthy Sergio Ramos, Pepe or Marcelo out of the starting lineup. He possesses a number of useful traits but none that set him apart from the rest.

Additionally, during Rafa Benítez's term, Danilo was often favored in an unnatural left back role over the competent Nacho. While he did see the field under Benítez it was almost exclusively due to Ramos's injury woes.

Nothing has changed under Zidane either. In two matches, Nacho has failed to make the team sheet as Danilo and Alvaro Arbeloa were selected before him. He's been a loyal servant to his boyhood club and if the player wishes for a move away from the Santiago Bernabéu, he should be allowed to leave. Nacho has never created a commotion over contract talks and hasn't done anything to land himself in the headlines. His track record is fairly clean. The 26-year-old is reaching a point in his career in which a majority of players peak and with a major European tournament on the horizon, Nacho would no doubt like to prove his ability to his national team manager Vincente Del Bosque.

A move away from the Spanish capital would suit both parties. There's still just over a week remaining in this transfer window meaning Real Madrid still have time to pursue a proper left back. Offloading Nacho would perhaps create an obligation to replace the defender with an alike player which wouldn't necessarily be harmful. No one expects the club to splash the cash this winter but adding another option to the left side of the back-line to challenge Marcelo would be beneficial. In addition, former servants of the club such as Gonzalo Higuaín and José Callejón have thrived in Naples; a promising sign for Nacho.