Real Madrid News
Real Madrid ready to sell 21-year-old academy gem with a buyback option
With Alvaro Arbeloa at the helm of affairs, there has been an increase in the number of opportunities that youngsters from Real Madrid’s youth and reserve teams have received.
While Thiago Pitarch has been the biggest beneficiary, another player who has become a regular in the first-team dynamics is fellow La Fabrica talent Cesar Palacios.
The 21-year-old versatile attacking midfielder made his debut in the ill-fated game against Albacete in January. Since then, he has played three more times for the Real Madrid senior team.
Real Madrid not ruling out Palacios’ sale
However, according to AS, Real Madrid are considering selling Palacios in the summer transfer window while retaining a future buyback option – a formula they have used for homegrown talents like Nico Paz, Jacobo Ramon, and Chema Andres.
Several La Liga clubs have been tracking him for months, while top-tier teams from Italy, Germany, and more recently Portugal are actively exploring a move.
Palacios’ contract at Real Madrid runs until 2027, but his cycle at Castilla is considered complete, and both club and player believe he is ready for a higher level.
But with regular minutes not guaranteed at the Santiago Bernabeu, he is expected to leave the club in the summer.
The intended formula is familiar: a transfer with Real Madrid retaining 50% of his rights, leaving the door open for a future return – as seen with Nico Paz, Jacobo Ramon and Victor Munoz.
Palacios, a versatile player capable of playing in multiple roles in attack and midfield, has made 66 appearances for Castilla, scoring 14 and assisting four goals.
The youngster is on the bench for tonight’s first-team Champions League clash against Manchester City and might get a few minutes depending on the situation of the match.
However, as things stand, a summer departure from Real Madrid looks set for Palacios.
One of the biggest positives for Real Madrid from the last season was the breakthrough of young midfielder Thiago Pitarch.
The 19-year-old La Fabrica prospect had been in the first-team dynamics since pre-season under Xabi Alonso, but finally got his senior debut under Alvaro Arbeloa at the turn of the year.
From that moment on, Pitarch did not look back at all, gaining prominence in the team and even starting important matches ahead of established players like Eduardo Camavinga and Dani Ceballos.
However, things have not gone as per plans for the teenager this season as he has yet to play a single minute of first-team football.
January loan no longer ruled out
As such, Diario AS now reports that Pitarch would consider leaving Real Madrid on loan during the January transfer window if his situation does not improve.
The teenage midfielder suffered an injury in pre-season which kept him sidelined for a few weeks, denying him an opportunity to start the season under Jose Mourinho.
By the time he returned, the Portuguese tactician had already identified his preferred hierarchy in midfield, with the likes of Federico Valverde, Bernardo Silva, Aurelien Tchouameni and Camavinga firmly ahead in the pecking order.
A stark difference from his debut season
In his debut season, Pitarch ended with 16 first-team appearances for Real Madrid with two assists to his name.
In contrast, this term, the academy graduate has been called up to the matchday squad for five games by Mourinho this term, but has yet to play a single minute of football.
Given the situation, he used the international break to jump down to Castilla and play close to 250 minutes across three games, during which he also registered an assist.
The situation is far from ideal for a young talent who needs regular minutes to continue his development and build on his impressive breakthrough campaign.
As such, the possibility of a departure on loan in January could be considered, after Pitarch turned down offers in the summer to stay at Real Madrid.
A lot will depend on how things evolve in the next couple of months, but a temporary exit cannot be ruled out.
