Real Madrid News
Ancelotti impressed by 18-year-old Real Madrid prospect called up for Spanish Super Cup
Real Madrid announced their squad for the Spanish Super Cup last night. Carlo Ancelotti has named his usual roster minus the pair of David Alaba and Aurelien Tchouameni, who are out injured.
One name that is certain to have caught the eyes of the Madridistas is that of Mario Martin. The 18-year-old midfielder has been included in the squad that has travelled to Saudi Arabia for the Spanish Super Cup.
And MARCA is now reporting that the teenager’s call-up for the tournament came after he managed to make a big impression on Ancelotti and his son and assistant, Davide, during the World Cup break.
With a majority of the first-team players away for World Cup duties, Ancelotti had to rely on several homegrown talents to conduct training sessions last month.
The likes of Sergio Arribas and Nico Paz featured regularly in those sessions and have even received call-ups to matchday squads since the restart of the season. Now, it is Mario Martin’s turn to get a taste of first-team football.
With Tchouameni injured, Real Madrid needed to incorporate a midfielder and the report from MARCA states that the staff did not think twice before selecting the 18-year-old after being impressed by him during the training sessions last month.
Martin has been a regular in Raul’s Castilla side, featuring in 12 league matches this term and even assisting three goals.
The report describes the teenager as a player with great physical strength and passing ability, while he is also said to be known for his defensive nous in front of the backline.
Ancelotti is not necessarily known for banking on youth players coming through the ranks. But he has looked more open to that this season, bringing the likes of Arribas, Nico Paz and now Mario Martin into the fold, although it is unlikely that he will give him a lot of minutes in Saudi Arabia.
Real Madrid face Valencia in the semi-finals of the Spanish Super Cup tomorrow. Should they emerge triumphant, they will face the winners of Barcelona vs Real Betis in the finals.
As Real Madrid look to restart the campaign following the end of the international break, all focus will be on the upcoming El Clasico in Copa del Rey on April 5.
However, before they take on their arch-rivals for a fourth time this year, Real Madrid must see off the challenge from Real Valladolid in La Liga on Sunday.
Given Barcelona’s 12-point advantage at the top of the table, La Liga appears to be a lost cause for Real Madrid right now. But that is no excuse for Carlo Ancelotti’s men to appear complacent, as they look to push for a late title charge.
However, heading into this contest, three Real Madrid players proceed with caution as they are running the risk of missing out on the next league game against Villarreal due to yellow cards.
The three players in question are Eduardo Camavinga, Dani Carvajal, and Dani Ceballos. All three of these players have picked up four yellow cards in La Liga this term. Therefore, picking up another booking against Valladolid will rule them out in the next game.
Camavinga, in particular, has been a vital part of the Real Madrid squad since the turn of the year, impressing onlookers with his performances and versatility.
Carvajal, too, is a critical option at right-back and his experience could go a long way in helping Real Madrid end the league campaign on a positive note. Not to mention, the club lack the services of a reliable alternative, which has led to links with Reece James this coming summer.
Ceballos, on the other hand, has been one of the emerging stars this year. The midfielder’s performances have been excellent lately, and he would not want to lose any momentum by picking up a suspension ahead of the important Villarreal game next week.
