Real Madrid are set to welcome Barcelona to Santiago Bernabeu for the first leg of the Copa del Rey semis soon. It might be the perfect time to face Xavi’s side as well, as they have lost twice on the trot and are on a shaky run of form at the moment. They were knocked out of the UEFA Europa League by Manchester United in midweek before losing unexpectedly to Almeria at the weekend.
Those results will give Real Madrid a lot of confidence heading into El Clasico. And one player who could prove to be an X-factor for Los Blancos on the day, could have ended up in the opposite dugout, if Barcelona had taken their chance.
The player in question is Alvaro. The 18-year-old is enjoying a meteoric rise in recent weeks and might have already placed himself as the back-up option to Karim Benzema for Real Madrid.
As reported by SPORT, in the summer of 2020, before Real Madrid went for him, several scouts alerted Barcelona about Alvaro’s talent. But the club believed that he did not have the ‘Barca profile’ and decided not to enter the race.
Barcelona turned down chance to sign Real Madrid wonderkid in 2020
Alvaro spent several years at the youth ranks of Girona before making the move to Real Madrid. And his development there has been impressive to say the least, as proven by the fact that he is making an impact in the first-team at just 18 years of age.
He came off the bench to score the equaliser against Atletico Madrid in the Derby at the weekend. Before that, he had put in promising substitute displays in other matches as well.
It remains to be seen if Alvaro will get a chance to make his presence against Barcelona in the semis of the Copa del Rey.