Real Madrid have so many excellent young players, either as part of the XI, on the bench, on loan, in Castilla, or even at other clubs in Europe with Los Blancos owning partial ownership or a buy-back clause on the player.
This season, Real Madrid won LaLiga and the Champions League as a partial result of the massive contributions from their young stars.
So let’s take a look at which players associated with the Merengue club would be in a best XI of U23 players in the Spanish top flight, based on their performances in the 2021/22 season.
Valencia GK Giorgi Mamardashvili
We begin with the only U23 goalkeeper to make at least 10 appearances this season, Valencia’s Giorgi Mamardashvili. He supplanted veteran Jasper Cillessen in February after the former Barcelona goalkeeper went down injured, and he never looked back. Mamardashvili was behind only Bono and Thibaut Courtois in save percentage among LaLiga keepers. The 20-year-old is one of the best young keepers in Europe, one of the best keepers in LaLiga, and extremely underrated. More people should know his name.
Rayo Vallecano/Real Madrid LB Fran Garcia
Fran Garcia counts as a Real Madrid player in my book, because if the Merengues want, they can purchase the left back from Rayo Vallecano for just five million euros, given they have 50/50 ownership of the former Castilla standout.
A great athlete who stood out in 1-0 upset victories over Barcelona, Garcia will be one of the best left backs in LaLiga for years to come. You could already make the case that he was the best left back in the league for the 2021/22 campaign.
Athletic Bilbao CB Dani Vivian
Another very underrated player, Dani Vivian gets overshadowed by the other great young center backs in LaLiga, such as Real Madrid’s Eder Militao, Sevilla’s Jules Kounde, and Villarreal’s Pau Torres.
But those guys are no longer under the age of 23, so now it is Vivian’s time to make these kinds of lists. Vivian is one of a few exciting up-and-coming talents at the historic Basque club, and he fits them perfectly. He will be one of the best center backs in the league in no time and a real pain for Madridistas.
Getafe CB Jorge Cuenca
Speaking of being a pain, Jorge Cuenca is another player who suits his club perfectly. The 22-year-old Spaniard is about as much of a pest as you’d expect any Getafe defensive player to be. Cuenca was solid for the lower-table side last season, dribbled past just 0.2 times per game, even better than Vivian’s own impressive 0.3 average.
Barcelona RB Sergino Dest
Basically, this selection is by default, because Sergino Dest doesn’t seem like a long-term solution at the right back position for La Blaugrana. Still, he was a threat to Real Madrid in the first Clasico as an attacking option, and he is good at supporting attacks. There were no other options at the position in LaLiga, and Dest wasn’t all bad, of course. He had three assists and pass completion rate above 92, as well as nearly two dribbles completed per game.
Barcelona CM Pedri
The midfield and attack are where we start getting into the true young star talent of LaLiga. Though Real Madrid fans may get frustrated with Pedri’s quotes about being rejected by Los Blancos or with the exaggerated media hype, there is no denying the young man’s class. He was excellent in the Euros and decisive for Barcelona under Xavi. Pedri is going to be one of the elite players in LaLiga for years to come, if he is not already at that level.
Real Madrid CM Eduardo Camavinga
But the same can be said for Real Madrid’s midfielder Eduardo Camavinga, who may have even more upside because of his defensive contributions. The best option for the Golden Boy this year, an award Pedri won, Camavinga was world-class for the Merengues in big games, owning the Chelsea and Manchester City midfielders in Champions League knockout Remontadas.
In LaLiga, Camavinga was also great, even if he was not a regular starter. He had a stellar goal against Real Sociedad, changed the game on his debut against Celta Vigo, and had a number of solid all-around performances. Don’t overlook all the little things he does to help Real win.
Barcelona CM Gavi
Gavi is another player who gets a lot of hype and that rubs Madridistas the wrong way, but he is definitely a great young talent in his own right and an obvious selection for a LaLiga U23 XI. After all, there are not many midfield options besides these three standouts.
Just 17 years of age, Gavi is already a solid LaLiga midfielder and will do plenty of growing under the guidance of the legendary Xavi. Gavi had two goals, five assists, and two fouls drawn per game in LaLiga last season. Though when it comes to fouls, he could afford to cut down on his own, as he was booked nine times. Of course, the same can be said about Camavinga; these young stars will learn the ways to walk the tightrope. They have great mentors for that, after all.
Real Madrid LW Vinicius Jr.
Easily the best player in this entire XI and the second-best player not just in LaLiga last season, but in all of Europe.
Vinicius Jr. was unplayable at times. Just ask Sevilla. Or Barcelona themselves in the first Clasico. He can change games all on his own, either as a goal-scorer or as a constant threat who leaves the entire right side of the defense on skates.
Opponents had to resort to fouling him viciously. Vini Jr. is on another level, and it is hard to believe he is only 21. With all due respect to Pedri, Vinicius Jr., who scored 17 goals with 10 assists, is by far the best young player in LaLiga.
Atletico Madrid CF Joao Felix
If there is any one player Real Madrid fans would love to steal from their crosstown rivals, then. itis the left-footed wizard Joao Felix. Though he has yet to live up to the price tag, Felix has shown his quality and would do so much better if Diego Simeone would just tweak his system a little bit to help the creative Portuguese forward flourish.
Despite not being used to his best, Felix had eight goals, four assists, and 2.4 fouls drawn in a quality season on a not-so-quality Atletico Madrid team.
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Barcelona RW Ferran Torres
A Real Madrid site picking more Barcelona players? What about Rodrygo Goes? While I am a big believer in Rodrgyo being a better player than Torres, this list is based solely on the 2021/22 season in LaLiga. Therefore, Torres gets the nod. He had a better season than Rodrygo.
Once wanted by Real Madrid, the former Valencia star took a path through Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City before wanting a move to Barcelona to help be a focal point for the historic club. Ferran Torres always plays Los Blancos tough, and he did so in this year’s 4-0 Clasico, embarrassing Dani Carvajal in the process.
Though Torres still has growing to do, the 22-year-old continues to show why he is one of the best wingers in LaLiga; there is no doubting that. Torres had four goals and four assists in under 1,500 LaLiga minutes this season.