Real Madrid have always been a great hub of producing young talent. La Fabrica, the famed academy, has had graduates like Nacho, Dani Carvajal, Iker Casillas, Raúl González, Lucas Vázquez, Achraf Hakimi among many more.
The current players in the academy are extremely talented, but they have found it difficult to break into the first team. There is an abundance of talent, but scarcity of opportunity for these youngsters. It’s difficult to tell if they have a future at the club.
According to Mario Cortegana of MARCA, six Real Madrid Castilla players are generating loan interest from other first and second division teams in Spain, as well as teams from other leagues. These players are centre-backs Rafa Marín and Mario Gila, left-back Miguel Gutiérrez, winger Peter Federico, attacking midfielder Sergio Arribas, and striker Juanmi Latasa.
Barring Rafa Marín, all the other players have featured for the first team in the past two seasons, some getting more opportunities than others. But all of them have the potential to break into the first team at some point in their careers.
Mario Gila could make a big LaLiga move this summer
The report specifically states that Getafe are looking to acquire the services of centre-back Mario Gila on loan from Real Madrid. Los Blancos have an excellent business relationship with Getafe, which are also based in Madrid. Gila played 23 off the bench in LaLiga Santander, against Espanyol and Levante during the fag end of the league season. He, like Rafa Marín, is highly regarded in the academy.
Rafa Marín is a brilliant centre-back, hailed as the best defender in the academy currently with the potential to be a starter at Real Madrid. He would’ve made his debut for Real Madrid had he not been injured during the end of the season.
Arribas, Latasa, and Miguel had great seasons with Real Madrid Castilla, being among the most important players. Latasa scored 13 goals in the division in 30 appearances, and although he is not yet a finished product, a loan would do him a world of good.
Arribas would find it difficult to gain a place in the first team because of Ancelotti opting to play central midfielders instead of attacking midfielders. While the diminutive playmaker could play on the wings too, there are already too many attacking options in the first team for him to find his footing.
Miguel’s case is the strangest of them all. He shone under Zidane in the 2020-21 season, and started a few games under Ancelotti at the beginning of the 2021-22 season in Ferland Mendy’s absence. However, with growing rumours of Fran Garcia’s return, the future for Miguel Gutiérrez looks very bleak.
Lastly, Peter Federico is an exciting right winger. He made a few appearances this season and was a delight to watch for Castilla. Federico could get a place in the first team provided Marco Asensio is sold. Rodrygo would be the starting right winger (he has earned it), while Peter could be his backup. But it would be better for him to be sent out on loan before giving him such a role in the first team.
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Which players do you think should be sent out on loan and which players according to you should be promoted to the first team?