5 Real Madrid Youngsters Who Could Taste 1st-Team Action in 2015-16 Season
Real Madrid had just finished sweeping aside Cornella in the second leg of their Copa del Rey tie at the Santiago Bernabeu, Los Blancos having finished the contest with a collection of players remaining of the pitch defined by youth.
"We finished the game with six players from the cantera (academy) squad, which is great news," said manager Carlo Ancelotti.
It was significant for Real Madrid, a club maligned for its perceived (but not entirely correctly) lack of homegrown talent; a club more synonymous with high-profile transfers than player development. But the clash with Cornella had revealed a different side of Real Madrid, showcasing an array of talent many had believed didn't exist.
Will the emergence of that group continue in 2015-16? Possibly.
Across the following slides, we examine five Real Madrid youngsters who could see first-team action next season.
Martin Odegaard (If Not Loaned Out)
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Last October, he made his international debut with Norway aged 15 years and 300 days, becoming the youngest player ever to compete in the European championship. In May, he made his Real Madrid debut aged 16 years and 157 days, marking him the youngest Liga debutant in Real Madrid's history.
There's no debate to be had: Martin Odegaard is a serious talent.
But will he be at the Bernabeu next season?
According to AS, Real are considering loaning out the Norwegian, with Villarreal, Malaga and Real Betis considered possible destinations. Rayo Vallecano would also be a good fit. But Odegaard, who trains with the senior squad due to stipulations in his contract, has a summer ahead of him in which he has the chance to impress new manager Rafa Benitez. Might he stay in Madrid if he does?
A loan move does look more likely for the teenager, but if Los Blancos surprise us all and choose to keep him at the Bernabeu, he's a good chance to see more first-team action in 2015-16.
Alvaro Medran
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When Real Madrid cruised past Ludogorets at the Bernabeu in last season's Champions League group stage, Castilla star Alvaro Medran scored his maiden senior goal after replacing Gareth Bale in the game's dying minutes.
That brief outing was one of four senior appearances for Medran in 2014-15, as the midfielder won minutes in La Liga and the Copa del Rey as well.
A member of Carlo Ancelotti's pre-season squad that toured the United States last summer, the 21-year-old has progressed quickly through Real Madrid's academy ranks, and is considered similar in style to first-team star Isco.
So could he feature under Rafa Benitez?
According to AS (h/t ESPN FC), the new boss has already approached Castilla coach Zinedine Zidane to gauge which academy players could spend time with the senior side. Immediately, Medran won't be available, having broken his leg in the final stages of Castilla's season. But with Benitez having previously worked with Real's youth setup and having got hands on with Liverpool's academy, many expect the new manager to turn to homegrown talents at various stages next season.
Once Medran recovers, he'll be among the first considered for a call up.
Marcos Llorente
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When Real Madrid toured the United States for last summer's International Champions Cup, Marca ran the headline: "Ancelotti falls for a thoroughbred."
That "thoroughbred" was Marcos Llorente, and Marca declared Carlo Ancelotti had been "bowled over" and "taken aback" by the academy star. Will Rafa Benitez see the same potential?
Llorente is a skilful and driving central midfielder, the son of former Real Madrid player Paco Llorente and nephew of club legend Paco Gento.
The 20-year-old joined Real Madrid in 2008 aged 13, and has progressed through the Under-14, Under-16 and Under-18 levels to his current place in the Castilla squad.
In 2014-15, he made 25 appearances in the B team as one of the side's leading players, and could earn a call-up to the senior squad next season if Benitez looks to give minutes to Castilla players in the early rounds of the Copa del Rey.
Javier Munoz
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Javier Munoz was among the cantera players who featured for Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey victory over Cornella last December, and was unlucky not to score when his strong shot in the 89th minute was tipped over the bar.
That night, the midfielder saw almost half an hour of playing time at the Bernabeu, and was praised by Carlo Ancelotti after the match, the Italian describing Munoz as "very assured."
An integral part of Zinedine Zidane's Castilla midfield, the 20-year-old has progressed rapidly from the C team in which he made his debut in 2014, and made 28 appearances for Castilla under Zidane last season—the most among the squad's midfield ensemble.
And having already enjoyed a brief taste of first-team action, Munoz is in with a chance to do so again in 2015-16.
Jose Rodriguez
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Under Jose Mourinho, Jose Rodriguez made his senior debut for Real Madrid in October 2012 when he came on as a second-half substitute against Alcoyano in the Copa del Rey. After just 22 minutes of first-team action, he had his first goal.
The midfielder then made his Liga and Champions League debuts that December, becoming the youngest-ever player to represent Real Madrid in the continental competition when, aged 17 years and 354 days, he made a substitute appearance against Ajax at the Bernabeu.
However, such an achievement isn't guaranteed to be a precursor of success, Marca noting the player was caught in the middle of a political war between Mourinho and former Castilla coach Alberto Toril.
But the situation has changed: Rafa Benitez is now head coach, Zinedine Zidane is in charge of Castilla and Rodriguez has spent 12 months on loan at Deportivo La Coruna earning valuable first-team experience.
In Galicia, he impressed as an extremely versatile option at the Riazor, spending time as both an attacking and defensive midfield option. And just 20 years of age and returning to Madrid, Rodriguez could be among the Real Madrid youngsters to feature in the first team at some point in 2015-16.
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