Royston Drenthe is battling for his future at Real Madrid.

The Holland international angered management with his ugly challenge on Tenerife's Marc Bertran in Saturday's win, particularly after all the publicity that came from Pepe's brain explosion last season.

Sport says both Real GM Jorge Valdano and coach Manuel Pellegrini do not regard Drenthe as a long-term prospect and his actions on the weekend will only hasten his departure.