Real Madrid News
Real Madrid academy product elated after making first-team debut: “Can’t ask for more”
Real Madrid secured a berth in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey thanks to a 3-1 victory over Atletico Madrid on Thursday.
It was a special game for young Mario Martin, who was handed his professional debut by Carlo Ancelotti. He appeared as a substitute during the extra time, in what was a landmark moment for the teenage midfielder.
Speaking after the game, Martin voiced his delight at the opportunity to play for Real Madrid at the professional level.
“I can’t ask for more. Debuting against Atlético, victory in front of our fans. It’s a moment that I’m not going to live again, that can’t be described,” he said (h/t Mundo Deportivo).
“I’m going to frame the shirt, it’s the most special and I am going to keep it forever,” he added.
A native of Sonseca, Martin is a defensive midfielder by trade, who has been an ever-present figure of the RM Castilla unit this season. He featured in 13 league matches, registering three assists. In light of his performances at the youth level, the teenager was handed his professional debut against Atleti.
“It’s a joy to train with people of this level, they treat me like one more, they help me with everything I need, they ask me… I’m very grateful for sharing a dressing room with them, I feel like it’s my team,” Martin said when asked about the experience of sharing the Real Madrid dressing room.
The teenage prospect went on to thank his coaches including Ancelotti and Castilla boss Raul. He is also hopeful the Atletico Madrid was just a start of a great chapter in the Real Madrid first team.
“I hope this is just the beginning, I want to continue fulfilling objectives. I am very grateful to the family, to Ancelotti, to Raúl, to Davide. The coach told me to play positionally and to enjoy,” he said.
Martin’s appearance against Atletico Madrid was indeed a good omen for a Real Madrid side, who may witness a mass exodus in the coming summer, as the likes of Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and Dani Ceballos all have their contracts expiring at the end of the season.
There is no way back for Eden Hazard at Real Madrid. The Belgian international has not given the management any reason to have faith in his abilities over his past four seasons at the club and is unsurprisingly the most important departure for the Merengues in the summer.
Hazard has one more year on his contract in Madrid. However, it is clear that Carlo Ancelotti does not trust him and that any potential replacement manager in the summer will echo his stance.
According to reports from Mundo Deportivo, Fenerbahce are willing to go all out to sign Hazard this summer. The Turkish side have made the former Chelsea their prime target, yet face a steep task ahead of them.
The 32-year-old is hellbent on seeing out his contract with Los Blancos despite seeing his career sink right before his eyes. It thus becomes complicated for the party to lure away the forward, especially in a competition outside Europe’s top five leagues.
Fenerbahce attempted to sign the winger in the recently concluded winter transfer market. They reached an agreement with Real Madrid but failed to get over the line as they could not convince the player of the move.
The biggest obstacle for the Turkish side will be convincing Hazard to make the move by letting go of his lucrative contract in Madrid. The chances are slim, but not impossible.
Hazard has made just three league appearances and one start for Ancelotti’s side this season in La Liga, a steep fall from last season’s 18 and seven respectively.
His last appearance for the team came back in January when Real Madrid faced Cacereno in the Copa del Rey. In La Liga however, he last played in September 2022 in a 4-1 win over Mallorca.
