We often tend to speak – rightly – of the FC Barcelona training center as the reference in this area. But we must not forget that La Fabrica of Real Madrid, the equivalent of La Masia, is also a very productive academy that regularly produces good youngsters. The Merengues are also often at the top of the rankings of the training centers that provide the most players to the clubs of the five major championships.
Marcos Llorente (Atlético), Mario Hermoso (Roma), Alvaro Morata (AC Milan), Miguel Gutierrez (Girona) or Achraf Hakimi (PSG) are some of the players trained within the capital club who shine away from the Bernabéu. And if Barça can currently count on Pau Cubarsi, Lamine Yamal or Marc Bernal (injured, Editor’s note), the Merengues have several promising youngsters like Enzo Alves, Marcelo’s son, Joan Martinez who we saw during the preseason before his injury or Alberto Ruiz. Unfortunately for them, they have just lost a huge hope…
The Shadow of Jorge Mendes
Paulo Iago (17 years old) has just left the Casa Blanca. After 10 years in the club’s youth teams, the Spaniard joined Sporting Portugal. A departure due to the approach of the end of his contract (2025) and which hurts Madrid, since he was already considered a player with the potential to reach the first team in the relatively near future. With more than 200 goals scored under the merengue tunic, the attacking midfielder was already closely followed by Carlo Ancelotti’s staff and is an indisputable in the youth teams of the Spanish selection.
His departure is however marred by controversy. Indeed, the young man posted a fairly clear message on Instagram: “It hurts me to leave for these reasons”. Without explaining. But as indicated Relevothe player feels betrayed by Real Madrid, especially because last season, he had a substitute role in the U19s when the club had promised him an important role. And this, without any explanation from the club or the coach Alvaro Arbeloa. Enough to annoy him… The presence of Jorge Mendes in the operation – he is the player’s agent – also casts a kind of gray area around the player’s motivations, while important members of the management such as José Angel Sanchez, right-hand man of Florentino Pérez, had been involved in convincing him to stay. A possible blow for the Merengues…
