Real Madrid News
Real Madrid teenage midfield prospect close to first-team debut after impressing Mourinho
Real Madrid’s only blockbuster midfield signing of the summer transfer window was Bernardo Silva, and the club pressed for a second big name until the very end.
When it became clear that a second elite signing was impossible, Florentino Perez and Co. moved on to alternative options and identified Racing Santander’s Sergio Martinez as a young talent with massive potential.
The player initially had his doubts over leaving a first-division team to play for Real Madrid Castilla, but he eventually joined with the conviction that he has what it takes to merit a first-team place over the months.
The time has arrived
As reported by Defensa Central, Jose Mourinho has been very impressed by Martinez’s quality in training and is already considering handing him a debut with the first team.
The 19-year-old starlet has been training with the senior side for a reasonable time now, and Mourinho has particularly been impressed by Martinez’s quality, dedication and professionalism behind the scenes.
Such has been Mourinho’s conviction in the young star that he has promised him a debut in the team’s upcoming games, especially given the team’s relative lack of quality in the deeper midfield.
A possible debut against Rayo Vallecano
Many saw the Inter Milan clash as the perfect chance to hand Martinez a chance, especially given how the team will be without Bernardo Silva, Arda Guler and Eduardo Camavinga on the night.
Mourinho, however, has understandably decided against the UEFA Champions League clash to be Martinez’s debut, possibly owing to the difficulty and the stakes.
The player has not been included in the squad and will not feature on the night.
There is, thus, a high chance that the new signing gets his big chance against Rayo Vallecano at the weekend – either as a starter or as a substitute. After all, the player could well be the midfield profile the club have been seeking for a long time now.
He may be registered with the Castilla side, but the former Racing star could well be a first-team signing if he keeps his level up. It remains to be seen how effectively he can maximise the opportunities handed to him.
Bernardo Silva was one of Real Madrid’s headline signings last summer. The Portuguese midfielder arrived on a free transfer from Manchester City and appeared destined to become the creative successor to Toni Kroos and Luka Modric in the middle of the park.
Indeed, with the club having not signed a new central midfielder, many within Real Madrid saw the veteran star as a solution to the issue.
Manager Jose Mourinho made him a starter from the very beginning in pre-season, but not in his usual role on the right. Instead, he deployed his compatriot as a deep-lying playmaker in the midfield double pivot.
A change in circumstances
Silva failed to have the expected influence when operating in a deeper role in midfield in the chances he got.
Combined with the emergence of Arda Guler and Aurelien Tchouameni’s return to fitness, the Portuguese international has now lost his place in the starting line-up and dropped to the bench.
Bernardo’s situation became particularly striking against Villarreal this past Saturday at the Santiago Bernabeu, when he did not play a single minute.
Limited opportunities under Mourinho
Bernardo has played six matches for Real Madrid, starting three and coming on as a substitute in another three.
He did not feature against Villarreal or Elche, while his only appearance in the last three matches was a little over 10 minutes against Atletico Madrid. He was not used regularly by the Portugal national team during the international break either.
Across Real Madrid’s eight La Liga fixtures, Silva has accumulated just 282 minutes of playing time.
The Champions League now presents another opportunity for the former Manchester City captain, who has yet to make his European debut for Real Madrid this season.
He missed the match against Inter Milan because he was still serving a suspension carried over from his time at the Etihad Stadium last season.
It remains to be seen whether Mourinho will give him an opportunity against AS Roma in the coming week.
For now, the midfielder’s reduced playing time suggests that the Portuguese coach has lost some of his faith in a player who arrived with high expectations after leaving Manchester City.
