For the game against Valencia on Sunday, Real Madrid manager Alvaro Arbeloa sprung a surprise in the starting XI.

At right-back, the head coach opted to start academy product David Jimenez despite having both Dani Carvajal and Trent Alexander-Arnold fit and available on the bench.

It was the 21-year-old starlet’s first major test with the senior team, having previously played in cup ties against lower-league opponents like Talavera and Albacete.

And Jimenez came through unscathed on the night at Mestalla, delivering a solid performance both in attack and defence, before eventually making way for Trent in the final 15 minutes or so.

Jimenez set to become a first-team member next season?

Now, according to MARCA, Real Madrid are already starting to see Jimenez as a part of their first-team squad from next season onwards.

For some time now, Jimenez, like many other academy players, has carried the label of a footballer with first-team potential. However, his recent performances under both Xabi Alonso and Arbeloa have propelled him forward.

Indeed, the 21-year-old full-back has fully entered Real Madrid’s plans for squad planning ahead of next season.

Real Madrid take it for granted that veteran right-back and club captain Dani Carvajal will leave at the end of the season when his contract expires.

That is where Jimenez enters the picture, as part of a right-back pairing with Trent next season, with the ever-present wildcard of Federico Valverde also in mind.

With a contract running until 2027, Real Madrid will sit down with the young defender to plan a future that could involve promotion to the first team.

Several clubs had showed interest in Jimenez last summer after his excellent season with Castilla, including Valencia, but Arbeloa, who was the reserve team coach at the time, and the club closed the door from the outset.

And, the youngster could become a regular part of the first-team dynamics come next season.