Barcelona may get plenty of recognition for 'La Masia', the youth set-up at Barca that continues to churn out some outstanding young talent, most recently Pedro and Jeffren, but today 'AS' reported the amazing statistic that there are 107 players playing professional football across Europe that were nutured in 'La Fábrica' at Real Madrid. 51 ply their trade in 'La Liga', 43 in 'La Segunda' and 13 overseas. Out of those who play in the Primera Division, Getafe is home to seven former Real Madrid youth players, with Soldado, Parejo, Belenguer, Adrián, Casquero, Miguel Torres and Codina all at home in the Coliseum. Abroad you have Jordi Lopez in the Premiership, Javi Garcia and Balboa in Portugal, and it even streches as far as Armenia where Ulises and Pedro Lopez reside. Real Madrid themselves can only count on five at this moment in time, with Raul (contentious inclusion as he was originally an Atlético product), Guti and Casillas the old-timers joined more recently by Arbeloa (purchased from Liverpool) and Granero, with perhaps only Casillas and Arbeloa considered definite starters. If Real Madrid want to bridge the small gap that now separates them from their Catalan rivals, they will need to start turning these prospects into regular first-teamers, instead of letting talent such as Negredo and Soldado slip through their fingers.
Castilla does indeed produce a lot of players but Real Madrid never have the patience to blood them and bring the through to the first team hence the quip "Real buy, Barca breed". The best example of Madrid letting quality youngsters leave is Juan Mata who left for Valencia on a free transfer and imediate impact in the first team. Some say he could be worth as much as £15-20 million in the current transfer market
ReplyDeleteWithout a doubt the best example....Mata would surely be a starter for Madrid now.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure Madrid grasp how important it is to have young, local talent in the team. Seems it only hit home this summer when they recalled Granero and brought in Albiol and Arbeloa. And of course they've been unlucky with De La Red.
Real Madrid fans only want to see superstars. Barca want to see young lads coming up through the ranks. As an liverpool fans or Man Utd fan who they are most proud of and generally it will be a home grown player. Real Madrid is a franchise like Starbucks and the only thing that surprises me is why young lads go there when they know they wont get a chance in the first time. Good article by the way
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ruben is a god
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