'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Real Madrid is one of the most decorated and revered clubs in the history of football. As a youngster, it is a dream of almost every player to be a part of this legendary club. Ever since its birth in 1902, Madrid has maintained domination in Spain and also in Europe.
Whether it is the past or the present, we will often find glorious days in the pages of Los Galacticos' books. The club has housed some of the best players across the globe. From Alfredo Di Stéfano to Cristiano Ronaldo, the legends who have graced their presence at the club are unmatchable.
Madrid has always invited players on the basis of their talent, regardless of their origin or age. On the same note, let's take a look at some of the youngest players in the history of the Galacticos.
Ranking the 5 youngest debutants in Real Madrid's history.
Source: Transfermarket
#5 Jose Antonio Erice — 17 years, 4 months, 5 days
If you shuffle through the pages of Real Madrid's history books, you won't find much about Jose Antonio Erice. Regardless, he remains one of Real Madrid's youngest ever players to make his debut for the club.
Antonio Erice's debut came in Madrid's thumping 0-4 loss against Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey in May 1916. Jose Antonio Erice was just another player who enjoyed a very short stint with the Spanish giants. He featured in only three games and all of them took place in the Copa del Rey.
Even for a short span, Jose Antonio Erice was part of a star-studded team that included the great Santiago Bernabeu himself.
#4 Raul — 17 years, 4 months, 2 days
If we sit down to jot the list of the greatest Real Madrid players of all time, Raul Gonzalez will surely make it to the top of the list. He held almost every record under his belt until the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo.
Madrid spotted Raul during his La Fabrica days. Starting with Real Madrid C, he earned the call-up to Real Madrid B and the senior team in the very same year (1997). Raul's career skyrocketed after being promoted to the senior side.
He broke multiple records at club level and, in return, Madrid earned themselves a charismatic player and a captain. Raul left Los Blancos in 2010 after a trophy and goal-laden stint.
#3 Alberto Rivera — 17 years, 3 months, 25 days
Alberto Rivera retired after enduring a lengthy career that spanned over two decades. He accumulated about 282 La Liga games under his belt before hanging his boots. The midfielder featured for various clubs including Numancia, Levante, Betis, Sporting de Gijón and Elche.
Alberto Rivera's career started off with Real Madrid's youth academy. After marking his presence for the senior side on 10th June 1995, Rivera returned to play for the club's reserves. On paper, though, he is the third-youngest debutant in the club's history.
Rivera left the Spanish capital in 1999. First, as a loanee and then permanently. The Spaniard went on to play lengthy stints with Levante and then Real Betis.
#2 Rene Petit — 16 years, 6 months, 29 days
Rene Petit marked his debut for Real Madrid at the age of 16. Featuring for the Galacticos in a Copa del Rey fixture against Athletic Bilbao, Petit became the then-youngest player to don the legendary white dress. The record stood for nearly a century until it was broken by Martin Odegaard in 2015.
Rene Petit marked his debut alongside Jose Antonio Erice. Rene was a popular figure in Spanish football during the early 1900s. He played alongside his older brother Juan Petit. Rene earned a lot of positive attention for his pace, strength and precision despite his tender stature.
Rene Petit retired from football to become a scientist.
#1 Martin Odegaard — 16 years, 5 months, 5 days
In 2015, the world came to know about a prodigy called Martin Odegaard. The creative attacking midfielder couldn't escape the eyes of Real Madrid's scouts. He was spotted by the Blacos' recruiting team during his Strømsgodset days.
During the last phase of Strømsgodset's league campaign, Martin Odegaard was approached by leading clubs around Europe. The Swedish prodigy trained with Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Arsenal. When the offer from Real Madrid knocked on his door, Odegaard couldn't say no.
Thus, the then-17-year-old Martin Odegaard joined Real Madrid and created a cloud of hype around him. Carlo Ancelotti, who was serving his first stint at Madrid, confirmed that the starlet would be training with both the senior team and the Castilla team.
The latter was managed by none other than Zinedine Zidane. He stepped onto the grass for the first time with the senior squad on the last day of the 2014-15 season. Odegaard came off the bench after the hour mark to replace the great Cristiano Ronaldo.
