Real Madrid News
Real Madrid starlet’s rapid rise continues in pre-season under Jose Mourinho
Alexis Ciria has emerged as one of the revelations of the short pre-season at Real Madrid under new manager Jose Mourinho this summer.
The 18-year-old winger from Badajoz has enjoyed one of the fastest rises seen in Real Madrid’s academy in recent years.
Signed from Sevilla’s youth system in January as one of La Fábrica’s marquee additions, Ciria has gone from playing for the Juvenil A side to scoring for the first team in just seven months.
His goal against Fiorentina came in only his second start under Mourinho, marking another milestone in a remarkable ascent.
Reflecting on the moment, Ciria admitted the emotions nearly got the better of him.
“At first, I was a little nervous, but once I stepped onto the field, the nerves went away because I was doing what I love. When the ball came to me, everything else disappeared, and once I saw it go in, it was such a relief,” he said.
A meteoric rise through the academy
Ciria announced himself almost immediately after arriving in Madrid.
He made his debut for the Juvenil A on 28 January against Mallorca in the Copa del Rey round of 16 and scored the extra-time winner.
From there, his progress accelerated at astonishing speed. He became a starter in key UEFA Youth League knockout ties, forming a dangerous wing partnership with Dani Yanez that repeatedly troubled opposition defences.
Soon after, he earned starts for Real Madrid C before receiving his first call-up to Castilla. The entire climb took just 38 days, a journey that typically requires several seasons.
Success at every level
Ciria’s momentum never slowed. He marked his Castilla debut with an assist before quickly opening his scoring account for the reserve side.
His outstanding first half-season culminated in UEFA Youth League glory, where he played a key role in Alvaro Lopez’s Juvenil A team as they defeated Club Brugge on penalties in the final in Lausanne.
💬 Alexis Ciria: "Mourinho me pide que tenga confianza y me divierta". pic.twitter.com/kM3Dti1Qk2
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) August 1, 2026
Winning Europe’s top youth competition confirmed his emergence as one of Real Madrid’s brightest young talents.
International recognition
Ciria’s performances also earned recognition with Spain’s Under-18 national team.
During the European Championship qualifying round in March, Ciria scored twice and established himself as an important player in David Tenorio’s squad.
His rapid development had already caught the attention of Alvaro Arbeloa, who had planned to invite him to train with the first team during the international break.
Instead, Spain’s Under-18 call-up prevented that opportunity, delaying his first experience with the senior squad.
With another composed performance against Fiorentina and his first senior goal now behind him, Ciria’s remarkable rise is no longer just an academy story. It has officially reached Real Madrid’s first team.
In what will come as a pleasing development for fans, Fabrizio Romano reports that Real Madrid forward Rodrygo could make a comeback from his injury earlier than expected.
The 25-year-old Brazilian international has been out of action since March after suffering an ACL injury during a La Liga game against Getafe.
Due to the complete rupture of the ACL, coupled with associated meniscus damage, it was suggested that the attacker was staring at a lengthy time out on the sidelines and might not return until 2027.
In fact, the forward’s father, Eric Goes, recently stated in an interview that the Real Madrid ace could be back in February next year, just before the business end of the campaign.
Rodrygo could be back in December
However, as per the update from Romano, Rodrygo’s comeback could happen well before that expected date.
Indeed, if things continue to progress at the current rate, the 25-year-old attacker might return to action in December or by January 2027 at the latest.
This will come as a welcome boost for Jose Mourinho & co., considering that Rodrygo is a valuable player for the team.
Even though he had endured a tough spell prior to his form, the Brazilian’s versatility, work rate off the ball, and eye for a goal make him an asset.
Rodrygo eager to be back at his best
The update from Romano further states that Rodrygo feels very grateful to Real Madrid for all the help and support they have given him during this difficult phase of his career.
As such, the Brazilian international has made it a mission to return to action in the best shape possible and make an impact from the get-go.
The attacker has only recently begun working on the pitch with the ball indicating the significant progress he has made on the road to recovery.
And, if there are no setbacks, Real Madrid could recover one of their ace attackers before the end of the current year.
So far in his career, Rodrygo has made 297 appearances for Real Madrid, scoring 71 goals. He has a contract with the club until 2028.
