Current Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane’s first coaching stint at the club was not with the first team. In fact, it was with Real Madrid Castilla, Real Madrid’s reserve team, where future stars bought from other countries and also from their own academy, La Fabrica, test themselves in the same league system as the first team, albeit a division lower.
This system is more beneficial compared to the one in England where there is a separate league because players get valuable experience of playing actual first teams. A number of Real Madrid stars have played for Castilla such as Iker Casillas, Raul and current Los Blancos striker Alvaro Morata. Although not as famous as Barcelona’s La Masia, La Fabrica has produced world-class stars throughout the decades.
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With the season coming to an end, now is a good opportunity to find out which players have improved over the season and whether they are ready to become a part of the first team in the near future. The current reserve team is in the third division of the Spanish top flight and is not in a position to clinch promotion to the second division this season.
So, here is the ranking of the players of Real Madrid Castilla based on their skill, potential and chances of making it to the first team.
#23 Alexandro Marco Craninx
Craninx joined Madrid youth ranks from Marbella in 2011 and has risen slowly through the ranks to become a squad member of Santiago Solari’s Castilla team in 2015. The 21-year old has won a Youth Champions Cup in 2014 and the tall goalkeeper has represented Belgium at the under-17 level.
Craninx is known for his bravery in the air and for being a vocal goalkeeper. However, time is running out for him as he did not play a single game this season for the reserve team and his future looks to lie elsewhere.
#21 Alejandro Salto Sánchez
Salto joined Real Madrid in 2012 and was a part of the B team this season. His playing time has however been limited to only 4 appearances despite training with the first team last October.
The Spaniard is a technical defender with pace, strength and is good in the air. However, without making an impact on this team, the 20-year old’s chances of playing for the first team can diminish quickly given his age.
#21 Javier Sánchez de Felipe
The 20-year old centre-back joined Real Madrid in 2005 and became a part of their B team at the start of this season. A tall defender who is two-footed thereby making him a versatile option. Although not physically imposing, his reading of the game and ability to bring the ball out from the defence are some of his strong traits.
Further, he is known for his character and has played 10 games so far for Castilla. It remains to be seen whether he can step up further by becoming a starter on the second team squad.
#20 Mario Rodríguez Ruiz
Born in Barcelona and joined Real Madrid from Cornella in 2011, the 20-year old midfielder is a creator with good vision. Football runs in his genes with his grandfather having played for Sporting Gijon.
Mario Rodriguez’s good technical ability might not get him into the first team with the likes of Isco and James Rodriguez finding themselves on the bench.
#19 Jaime Seoane Valenciano
One among a number of players to join Madrid in 2006, Seoane is a feisty midfielder who likes to dribble and possesses good technical ability. The 20-year old has 16 games for the reserve team and 5 games in the UEFA Youth League so far this season.
The middle of the park is an area where Madrid have an abundance of talent and players in the form of Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Casemiro and Mateo Kovacic. As a result, it is difficult for players such as Seoane to get a look in.
#18 Francisco Manuel Tena Jaramillo
The oldest player on this list at 23 years of age, Tena played over 100 games at different clubs including Sevilla B before joining Madrid in 2016. The Andalusian played in a Copa del Rey game while at Sevilla and brings experience to his defensive midfield role in the side.
Further, Tena played a key part in the Sevilla B side clinching promotion to the second division last season. Tactically aware and a good ball-winner, Tena provides a good base for the team to attack. However, at his age, it is difficult to expect him to get a chance in the first team anytime soon.
#17 Víctor Campuzano Bonilla
Victor Campuzano is a striker who was signed from RCD Espanyol by Los Blancos at the start of this season. The 19-year old can play across the front three and possesses pace, high work-rate and goalscoring ability.
He has played 21 games so far this season and has scored 5 goals for the Castilla side. He needs to improve his game if he needs to be considered for the first team in the near future.
#16 Javier Muñoz Jimenez
The vice-captain of the side, Javi Munoz is the controller in the side, with his technical and passing ability making him a crucial part of the team. He has been at Madrid since 2006 and made his first team debut against Cornella in the Copa del Rey in 2014.
However, at 22 years of age, Munoz might not finally make the cut at Los Blancos and yet can have a good career elsewhere.
#15 Mario Hermoso Canseco
The 3rd captain of the side, Hermoso is a local boy and has been with the club since 2006. Rising through the ranks at La Fabrica, Hermoso was sent out on a loan spell to Real Valladolid last season. On returning, he became a part of Santiago Solari’s Castilla team.
Hermoso played for the first team as a youth player in 2012 when he came on as a substitute against Millionarios FC in the Santiago Bernabeu trophy. A left-back by trade, Hermoso is a good defender, adept at dead-ball situations and has good amount of pace to maraud the left-wing. With opportunities going to come next season in his role, Hermoso should make the most of any opportunity he gets.
#14 Luis Miguel Quezada Sanchez
The under-20 Dominican Republic international is a versatile player who can play anywhere on the left-side and has been with Madrid since 2006. Coming from a sporting family, with his father a professional baseball player in the Dominican Republic, Quezada went out on loan last season to UE Olot before becoming a part of the reserve team this season.
Quezada is known for his excellent crossing ability and his versatility makes him an asset to the side. However, whether he can displace the Galacticos ahead of him in the Madrid first team or even serve as a back-up is going to be a very tough task given the quality that Zidane’s team possesses.
#13 Cristian Josue Artiles Cedres
Cristian Cedres came through the Las Palmas youth setup before Real Madrid snapped him up in 2010. He is a pacy and skilful player who loves to take on opposition players and is known to have a good shot as well.
The 21-year old has been playing with Real Madrid Castilla from 2015 and despite being adept in using either foot, the presence of players such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale will hamper his chances of having a long career at the capital club.
#12 Carlos Abad-Hernández Trujillo
The 21-year old goalkeeper is the first-choice keeper at Real Madrid Castilla and is currently on loan from Tenerife. The Spaniard came through Tenerife’s youth ranks and played for their B team before joining Real Madrid on a two-year loan deal in 2015.
The 6’4” keeper uses his height to full advantage in goal and has a useful combination of good reflexes, calming presence that makes him an excellent goalkeeper in one-on-one situations as well.
His chances depend on Madrid signing him permanently and at least making him a backup to the rumoured signing of David de Gea from Manchester United as current first team keeper Keylor Navas is set to be replaced.
#11 Lin Liangming
Lin is the star of China’s under-20 side and is the first Asian player to sign for Real Madrid. The 19-year old was signed in 2015 from Guangzhou R&F in 2015 and is a gifted winger with pace, directness and power.
The Chinese player is playing in his first season for Real Madrid Castilla and the club have rejected offers close to €10 million for the winger. While making it to the first team at Real Madrid could prove to be an arduous task, Lin can definitely become a good player at a European club for sure.
#10 Nikolaos Vergos
On loan from Greek club Olympiacos, Nikos is a tall centre-forward with good finishing abilities and is great in the air. He has won the Superleague Greece and the Greek Cup with Olympiacos as well. The striker has scored 5 goals this season for Real Madrid Castilla so far.
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The 21-year old needs to make his move permanent and step up further if he has to play at the Santiago Bernabeu, and given he provides a different attacking dimension, he could have a chance.
#9 Abner Felipe Souza De Almeida
The player tipped to become the next Roberto Carlos for Real Madrid, Abner started out at Brazilian club Coritiba before joining Real Madrid in 2014. The 20-year old is a hard-working left-back who likes to bomb forward, a trait similar to first team left-back Marcelo.
Abner is also a good striker of the ball and is expected to make the grade at Madrid. Despite his ability, it is a little-known fact that he considered retiring after three major knee injuries in the last few years dampened his morale and confidence.
However, then reserves manager Zidane was the reason why he completed his rehabilitation and came on to have a fine season this year.
#8 Luca Fernández
One of the sons of Zidane, Luca has decided to pursue a career between the sticks unlike his father, who was a legendary No. 10. The 18-year old joined Madrid’s youth setup in 2004 and has steadily risen through the system. He joined the Castilla team this season and made 8 appearances for the side before picking up a shoulder injury in early March that ruled him out of the season.
His potential came to the fore in January against Amorebieta, where Luca made a double save that showcased his reflexes and bravery. If he continues to grow in this fashion and improve upon his strengths of being strong in the air and in one-on-one situations, a first team debut could be on the cards in the near future.
#7 Alvaro Tejero Sacristan
Tejero was one of Zidane’s most trusted lieutenants during the Frenchman’s time in charge of Real Madrid Castilla and the 20-year old is a constant in the starting XI, having played 26 games so far this season. A utility player who is primarily a right-back, he played at left-back in the Copa del Rey clash against Leonesa last November.
The Spaniard has been with Real Madrid since 2005 and is known for his crossing skills as well as a liking to shoot from distance. He was a part of Madrid’s pre-season tour to North America last summer and made substitute appearances against Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea.
Currently on the fringes of the first team, but given the lack of quality depth, plus Zidane’s faith in his ability, Tejero definitely has a chance to make his mark at the capital club.
#6 Philipp Lienhart
The 20-year old started out at Austrian club Rapid Wien before joining Real Madrid on loan in 2014 and the loan deal was made permanent in 2015. The centre-back is tall, strong and is known for his aerial prowess. He is a constant fixture in the B team and has made 24 appearances so far.
Lienhart is a full under-21 international for Austria and made his Real Madrid debut in December 2015, when he came on for James Rodriguez in a Copa del Rey match against Cadiz. The Austrian is rated by the club and he could become a valuable first team squad member in the coming seasons.
#5 Sergio Ismael Díaz Velázquez
One of the highly rated players in Paraguay, Sergio Diaz took his first steps at Paraguayan club Cerro Porteno where he had a successful spell before Real Madrid secured his services at the start of this season. A pacy striker with good finishing ability, Diaz is regarded as the next Sergio Aguero due to his relatively short height and style of play.
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Although he has a long way to go to match the Manchester City striker, the 19-year old definitely has time to nurture his skill at the reserve team before pushing on to the first team which has strikers such as Karim Benzema and Alvaro Morata.
Further, he prefers to play as a second striker and the first team currently operates in a 4-3-3 and also there are a number of players for the second striker or No. 10 role as well, thereby diminishing his current chances.
#4 Federico Santiago Valverde Dipetta
An acquisition made by the club last summer, Valverde is a defensive midfielder with an eye for goal and he has scored three goals so far this season. The dynamism in his game sees him constantly involved in proceedings and at 18 years of age, he has time to learn.
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The midfielder started his career at Penarol in Uruguay and is already an under-20 international. His manager at Real Madrid Castilla, Santiago Solari told recently that, “I'm very happy with him. He has adapted very well to the club and country. Valverde always generates a lot of football in midfield.”
#3 Enzo Fernandez
The eldest son of Zinedine Zidane, Enzo is the captain of Real Madrid Castilla. After starting out at Juventus, Enzo joined Real Madrid in 2004 and has been at the club ever since. The midfield playmaker has some similarities with his illustrious father in terms of playing position, as well as his superb ball control and a great technique.
He made his first team debut last November when he came on as a substitute against Cultural Leonesa for Isco and scored on debut from the edge of the penalty area. While he has been constantly training with the first team, the overloaded attacking positions prevent Enzo from assessing his ability by playing in the main team and at 22 years of age, time could be running out for him.
#2 Aleix Febas Perez
One of the two supreme talents as per the higher-ups in the reserve team, Febas is also the 4th captain of the side. The Catalan boy joined Real Madrid in 2009 and swiftly rose through the ranks before becoming a regular for the Castilla side since 2015.
The talented midfielder has a fantastic vision and superb execution making him one to look out for. At 21 years of age, the coming season will prove to define as to whether he will step up or make a career elsewhere.
#1 Achraf Hakimi
One of the highly rated stars to come through La Fabrica, Hakimi joined Real Madrid in 2006 and is an attack-minded full-back by trade. Hakimi is also the first Moroccan international to play for Los Blancos as he already made his country debut at the age of 17 against Canada last year and was also named “Most Promising Moroccan Player of 2016.”
The 18-year old is a long-term solution for the first-team problems at full-back positions with neither Danilo nor Fabio Coentrao being able deputies to another La Fabrica graduate, Dani Carvajal, and Marcelo respectively.
His strengths lie in supporting the attack well and has an eye for goal, while he is reliable in defence making him a valuable asset to the club. His talent has already been noticed by Zidane who named him on the substitute bench for the Copa del Rey quarter-final second leg against Celta Vigo and gave him playing time in pre-season against Paris-Saint Germain.
It is only a matter of time before Hakimi gets a chance in the first team.
