Real Madrid: Ranking the top five players in Castilla
5. Pablo Ramon (Centre-back)
If you ask Madridistas about the centre-backs of the Castilla, the first name that might come to their mind would be that of Victor Chust, with the Castilla captain making his first-team debut in the 2020/21 season and having two starts to his name already. But there is a simply better player and carries a lot of hype. It is none other than Pablo Ramon.
Ramon was signed from RCD Mallorca’s youth setup at an age of 17, and he was assigned to the Juvenil-A team. But he played at such an extraordinary level that he was promoted to Real Madrid Castilla after just one season, following some exceptional performances in the UEFA Youth League.
It did take some time for him to make it into Raul’s starting XI, but once he got into the team there was no stopping him. He played an instrumental role in the team’s journey to the playoffs, which gifted him with many opportunities to train with the first team. He was also called up for the matchday squad of two LaLiga games, but unfortunately, he didn’t get to make his debut. But considering his skill-set and the hype that Ramon carries, a first-team debut might not be far away.
The reason why Ramon is rated as the best centre-back of Castilla is simple: He is the most complete centre-back Castilla have. He is blessed with supreme pace, strength and technique, along with some great mental strength.
Standing tall at 1.84m, he is strong in the air and has often proved to be an aerial threat during set-pieces. His defensive technique is excellent, with him making sure he comes away with the ball every time he makes an aggressive move to close down the attacker. And to round it off, Ramos is extremely comfortable with the ball at his feet, and one could see him exuberating confidence while having the ball and controlling the play.
Ramon would often make darting runs from the back and break through the press with ease. He can improve his passing skills with his weaker left foot, but still, he is a great passer of the ball and has the ability to build the play from the back with any pass – long, short, or an incisive through ball.
One can often see Ramon playing with an aggressive mindset, and admire the way he would act as a leader. He would regularly urge the team from the back and doesn’t hesitate to take the initiative. He would never give up until the final minute, and maintains his focus until the final whistle, displaying his mental strength in every game.
One could easily get confused whether they are reading about Pablo Ramon or Sergio Ramos, and I wouldn’t blame them. A lot of similarities can be drawn between the youngster and our former captain, The Fabrica coaches see him as a possible replacement for Sergio Ramos. I can see him making it to the first team in the future, while also leading the team from the left centre-back position that was once occupied by the legendary No.4 of Real Madrid. And it might just be a matter of time before we see Ramon getting a chance.