1. Sergio Arribas (Attacking midfielder)
If anyone watches the games of Castilla regularly, they can observe the excitement in the voices of commentators of Real Madrid TV, when a certain Spanish winger gets the ball. That guy speeding past defenders will make you sit on the edge of your seat, and will look to entertain you throughout the game, by being the star of the game. He is Sergio Arribas, the central piece of Raul’s Real Madrid Castilla.
The Spaniard has been in the Fabrica since the age of 11. Arribas’s journey has been a peculiar one, he has never carried a lot of hype until 2020 and remained an underrated player. But he became a revelation at the 2020 UEFA Youth League and was immediately promoted to Castilla.
He impressed Zidane in the 2020 pre-season camp so much that a first-team debut came before a Castilla debut, and everything changed for him within one month, as he jumped from Juvenil-A to the first-team. He made his debut against La Real, and also made his Champions League debut against Borussia Monchengladbach a few months later.
He hasn’t had a start for the first team so far, but he has such immense quality that once he gets a chance, he wouldn’t be dropped again. The same happened with him and Raul in Castilla, as Arribas became the focal point of Castilla within months. He has become their main man, and his stats with Castilla speak for themselves.
Arribas will do everything you want from an attacking midfielder or right-winger. He will beat defenders 1v1 with ease, he will burst through tight spaces, he will create clearcut chances with through-balls or crosses from the most difficult of positions, and he will also keep running up and down the field. He is a creative player primarily, but he will also score some stunners from the range with his fantastic left boot.
Even if you want to point out weaknesses in his game, you can’t find one. His decision making is too good for a 19-year-old, and on paper, he has everything to make it big. Some might criticise his small body frame, but the little bird with small-sized shin guards runs past much stronger and rough defenders in Segunda B, and he can only make you doubt how he does that.
In my opinion, he is the best player in Castilla and he has everything to book a place in the first team. There might not be much hype behind him, but once you start watching him regularly, you will fall in love with his game. Given the number of attacking midfielders in Real Madrid, he might have to wait for a chance. But trust me, once he gets a proper chance, he will become an undisputed first team player within weeks.