Real Madrid News
Official: Real Madrid sign U18 right-back from Atletico
For a long time, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid restrained from recruiting players from each other’s academy because of a theoretical ‘pact’ in place. However, that agreement seemingly came to a close last season after Los Blancos reportedly found their rivals scouting the Castilla.
Now, the Galacticos have officially announced the signing of one of Atletico Madrid’s academy players. Fifteen-year-old Jesus Fortea has joined Real Madrid from their local rivals and will play for the U-18 side next season as revealed on his official Instagram account.
This comes as big news as it is the first official transfer that breaks the pact of non-aggression between the two Madrid-based clubs after close to fifteen years. The non-aggression pact maintained that neither team would sign players from the other, either at the senior or the youth levels.
Fortea is one of Spain’s most talented young right-backs and has represented La Roja in the U-15 category. He began his career in Levante before moving to Atletico Madrid three years ago.
Yesterday, it was reported that seven academy players of Atletico had offered their services to Real Madrid in what is a big blow to Diego Simeone’s side. Moreover, the La Liga champions are confident of not losing any of their stars and now look to ruthlessly prey on their rivals’ academy.
It remains to be seen as to how Los Rojiblancos react to their neighbours’ move. However, this is certainly not a sign of good things to come and one could expect it to end in a series of animous transfers.
Arda Guler’s Real Madrid stint has not gotten off to the start he would have hoped to have given the expectation that preceded the transfer.
Having joined in the summer after Real Madrid outbid their competition to win him over from Fenerbahce for a 20-million-euro fee, buzz was high as the winger was expected to slot into the team quite seamlessly, albeit on a rotational basis.
Unfortunately for the 18-year-old, he has been constantly marred by injuries since completing the move.
Reports have stated that after Guler picked up his third injury since his move, Real Madrid have been concerned and want to take things slow with the player to ensure he is fit as soon as possible after an injury to his quadriceps this time.
The Turk is yet to make his competitive debut for the club, and Real Madrid even sacked their medical chief in November, in light of their injury crises since the beginning of the season.
No loan deal for Guler
However, according to Fabrizio Romano in a recent YouTube video, he states that Madrid maintain full trust and patience in the youngster.
Despite his bad luck with injuries, the latest of which he is scheduled to return from after Christmas, the Galacticos have no intention of loaning out Guler to Turkish clubs despite lots of speculation of them doing so of late.
Romano states that Madrid remain firm on not shaking things up too much with the squad, and they want to keep their roster stable, including Arda Guler.
They want to extend their full support and protection to the player as he aims to return to full fitness and finally make his bow for Madrid either by the end of this month or in 2024.
