In the current La Liga season, Real Madrid has been the leader in providing debuts to players from their academy.
Since Alvaro Arbeloa took charge, the pathways for rising talents from La Fabrica and Castilla have opened up significantly.
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Thiago Pitarch has emerged as a regular starter in recent weeks, while players like Cesar Palacios and Manuel Angel frequently feature in matchday squads.
Joan Martinez – A Prospect for Tomorrow
Among the young talents set for a potential debut is 18-year-old defender Joan Martinez.
As reported by El Mundo, Real Madrid is optimistic about Martinez’s potential as a candidate for the right centre-back position in the senior squad.
Real Madrid holds high hopes for Joan Martinez (R). (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
Martinez has been on the brink of a first-team debut since 2024, when he was included in the pre-season plans under Carlo Ancelotti, until a severe ACL injury sidelined him for nearly a year.
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After making his comeback last year, the Spanish centre-back has continued his development with Castilla, playing under Arbeloa before his promotion to the first team.
This season, Martinez has participated in 22 league games for Castilla, even netting one goal. He has been named in the first-team matchday squad for six games across all competitions this season, though he is still awaiting his official debut.
The young star has shown promising development, and those at Valdebebas are hopeful that he continues to progress, seeing him as a likely candidate for a future spot in the first team.