Heading into the 2023/24 season, Real Madrid boast some of the best young players in the world in their squad.
Vinicius Junior, Eduardo Camavinga and the recently acquired Jude Bellingham are just a few of the brilliant youngsters on the books at the Santiago Bernabeu who will undoubtedly impress next season.
While those names role off the tongue of most football fans around Europe, there are plenty of lesser known youngsters who could make their mark during pre-season this summer.
Signed for €30m in 2020 and still yet to make an appearance for the senior Real Madrid team, the word ‘bust’ comes to mind when thinking of Reinier Jesus.
He has spent time on loan with Borussia Dortmund and Girona in recent years, playing with recent Bernabeu arrival Bellingham in Germany. His loan with Girona yielded only two goals from 19 games, 13 of which were as a substitute.
However, at only 21 years old, there’s still plenty of time to turn his Blancos career around. The Brazilian clearly has something and, if the club decide to keep him around for pre-season, there’s every chance he could begin to show why he was once one of the highest-rated teenagers in world football.
Under-19 coach Dani Poyato hailed Marvel as ‘the closest thing to Alaba that you can find. A left-footed central defender who can also play wide. Confident bringing the ball out from the back, [he has] an imposing physique, ideal for duels’. Who are we to argue with that?
The Spain youth international, full name Marvelous Antolin Garzon, has flown through the ranks at Real to the fringes of the first team. The young defender was a regular for Real Madrid Castilla last season and looks ready for the step up to the next level.
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Perhaps the most familiar name here, Alvaro Rodriguez has already made telling contributions for the senior team in his short career to date.
After banging in the goals at Castilla level, Rodriguez showed a penchant for finding the back of the net in La Liga too by scoring a crucial late equaliser against Atletico Madrid at the tail-end of the 2022/23 season.
With Karim Benzema now gone and no new striker signing in sight bar Joselu, Rodriguez could be set to enjoy an elevated role at the club next season.
Having made double digit appearances for the senior team over the last three years, Sergio Arribas has been on the brink of a breakthrough at Los Blancos for a while.
Considering he’s a midfielder and Real Madrid are awash with talent there to say the very least, a loan to another La Liga club may be the best option for the 2023/24 season in order to guarantee game time. However, Ancelotti should still give him a run out in pre-season to see what he’s all about beforehand.
Arda Guler has a leg up on his fellow Real youngsters, given he’s already broken through at senior level with Fenerbahce.
The young Turkey international has designs on establishing himself in Ancelotti’s first team after choosing Los Blancos over Barcelona and fans will get the first chance to see him in their iconic white kit during pre-season.
How Guler fares over the summer may decide how much game time he receives in his first season in Spain.
Nico Paz is another youngster earning rave reviews, with midfielder Toni Kroos even telling MARCA: “This lad should train with us every day because he’s outstanding.” That’s solid praise for a teenager.
The young Argentinian has impressed in the UEFA Youth League and has attracted interest from Borussia Dortmund, who are renowned for spotting the next big thing.
It’s a family thing for Lucas Canizares, whose father Santiago also came through their youth ranks before proving himself elsewhere.
The young goalkeeper was part of Real’s Club World Cup success earlier this year, though dislodging Thibaut Courtois between the sticks will be tough for any shot stopper in the coming years.
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