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“Monday Reflections” is back! Yes, it’s not Monday, but midweek reflections will do.
The recent incorporation of Real Madrid youth players into the first team has become a surprising Ancelotti 4.0 plot. Yes, this development has been forced on the Italian coach by an injury crisis and a board unwilling to invest in interim signings in January, but it’s a story nonetheless. Raúl Asencio has claimed a permanent place in the first team, Daniel Yáñez made his La Liga debut and the trio of Loren Aguado, Diego Aguado and Chema were involved in Madrid’s 5-0 thrashing of Deportiva Manera in the Copa del Rey . . Both Loren and Diego Aguado are called up for the Spanish Super Cup along with Raúl Asencio and Daniel Yáñez.
What does all this mean? Will any of these four players finish the season with significant first-team minutes? Maybe, maybe not. My theory is that we will see more. The Factory players woven into the first team dynamic, but with players spending 2 to 3 years in the fold rather than becoming long-term fixtures like Nacho, Carvajal or Lucas Vázquez. Here may be the future of these homegrown players and others who make it to the first team: not decade-long careers, but shorter periods playing significant roles, such as Esteban Granero, José Callejón, Javi García, Álvaro Arbeloa, Joselu and others.
Some have suggested that Raúl Asencio is closer in quality to Miguel Torres than Nacho Fernández. Putting that argument aside for a moment, if we accept the premise that the comparison with Torres is true, it would mean that Asencio is a valuable and useful player for 2 or 3 seasons. Miguel Torres was an important player during back-to-back title wins in 2007 and 2008, playing more than 20 games per season and logging nearly 2,000 minutes in those campaigns. He even displaced the aging Roberto Carlos during Capello’s return year. If Raúl Asencio’s career reflects that of Miguel Torres (winning two La Liga trophies, two Spanish Super Cups and playing a valuable role throughout), he, the club and the fans would probably accept that deal right now.
There is a long list of players on Madrid’s radar to fill these positions: Nico Paz, Miguel Gutiérrez, Rafa Marín, Mario Gila, Pablo Ramón or Sergio Arribas, among others. However, if we’ve learned anything from the performances of Raúl Asencio and Loren Aguado, it’s that under-hyped, under-hyped 20-somethings with something to prove often rise to the occasion. Raúl Asencio was never as valued as Joan Martínez, Jacobo Ramón or Marvel, but it seems that he has been in the first team for years. Loren Aguado has been discreetly rising from Benjamín B (Alevín 9) to Castilla. “You see him one day and you don’t fall in love with him. You see it for two days and it starts to catch your attention. “He is the type of player who does the simple things well, makes the right decisions and grows with you,” a source said. BRAND during the preseason tour. Players like this can have a role at Real Madrid.
In a recent podcast with Ruben Skjerping, I argued that perhaps our youth players simply aren’t as good as we rate them. Take a look at the 2021 UEFA Youth League champions and where they stand today. None play significant roles for the top six teams in Europe’s big five leagues. I expected more from that generation. Rubén responded, suggesting that some players simply “work” at Real Madrid, citing Sergio Reguilón’s success under Solari. That argument resonated with me. There appears to be an intangible link between a successful player in Madrid and the unique qualities required to thrive here, qualities that often go beyond raw talent.
Most of the time, it comes down to mindset more than talent. Raúl Asencio may not be as talented as other centre-backs at Valdebebas, but he had the confidence and composure to make a 60-yard pass to Jude Bellingham on his La Liga debut at the Santiago Bernabéu, taking a step forward after injury of Eder Militao’s anterior cruciate ligament. He seized the moment instead of being intimidated by it. That play was more than just a 60-yard pass; captured a multitude of narratives and subplots but, most importantly, highlighted Raúl’s mental strength.
In short, the path from The Factory The first team is defined not only by talent but by the ability to rise to the occasion when the moment demands it. Players like Raúl Asencio remind us that Real Madrid is not just about cultivating superstars, but also about finding players who fit the club’s spirit: those with the necessary quality but also the mental strength to thrive under pressure. Whether their time in the spotlight is short-lived or long-lasting, these players can contribute to the club’s legacy in a significant way. The next chapter for The Factory Talents will be written not only by those we hope will succeed but by those who seize the opportunity when it presents itself.
