MU Shorts
Three players who started at La Masia and signed for Real Madrid
The rivalry between Barcelona and Real Madrid extends far beyond El Clasico.
It influences transfer strategies, youth development, scouting networks and even career decisions made by players at a young age.
That is why it always attracts attention whenever a footballer with roots at La Masia ends up wearing the famous white shirt of Real Madrid.
While direct transfers between the two clubs remain extremely rare, several players who spent part of their development years at Barcelona’s academy have eventually found their way to the Santiago Bernabéu.
Some used Real Madrid as a platform to revive their careers, others struggled to establish themselves in the first team, while a few became valuable financial assets for Los Blancos despite never becoming regular starters.
Here are three players who began their journeys at La Masia before eventually signing for Real Madrid.
Marc Cucurella
The latest addition to this unique list is Spanish full-back Marc Cucurella, who recently completed a high-profile move from Chelsea to Real Madrid despite attracting interest from Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.
Born in Catalonia, Cucurella joined Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy in 2012 and established himself as one of the most promising young players in his age group.
However, despite progressing through the youth ranks, opportunities with the first team proved difficult to come by.
His senior involvement at Barcelona was limited, with the defender making just a single appearance before embarking on a series of moves away from Camp Nou in search of regular football.
Loan spells at Eibar and Getafe helped accelerate his development, while a permanent move to the latter allowed him to showcase the attacking qualities and intensity that would eventually earn him a transfer to the Premier League.
After successful spells with Brighton & Hove Albion and Chelsea, Cucurella rebuilt his reputation as one of Europe’s most reliable left-backs.
Real Madrid eventually moved to secure his signature, agreeing a deal worth an initial €55 million plus a further €5 million in add-ons.
Victor Munoz
Victor Munoz has become one of the most talked-about names in recent weeks following his transfer to Liverpool, a move that also generated a significant financial boost for Real Madrid.
Like Cucurella, Munoz was born in Catalonia and spent his early footballing years at La Masia after joining Barcelona’s academy at the age of 11.
However, his path took a different direction in 2017 when he left the club and moved to Damm. Four years later, Real Madrid identified his potential and brought him into their academy setup.
The winger continued his development in Madrid and eventually earned his first-team debut in May 2025. Ironically, that appearance came against Barcelona in El Clasico, when he replaced Vinicius Jr. late in the game.
Although he became remembered for missing a clear scoring opportunity during the match, Real Madrid remained convinced of his potential.
Seeking regular minutes, Munoz later joined Osasuna while Los Blancos retained 50% of his economic rights, a decision that proved highly beneficial when Liverpool activated his €40 million release clause.
As a result, Real Madrid pocketed €20 million from the deal without the player ever becoming a regular fixture in the first team, highlighting the club’s increasingly effective talent development model.
Takefusa Kubo
Perhaps the most famous player on this list is Takefusa Kubo.
The Japanese international joined Barcelona’s academy in 2011 after impressing during trials and was immediately viewed as one of the brightest young prospects in the system.
Kubo spent four years developing within Barcelona’s youth structure before FIFA sanctions related to the club’s recruitment of underage foreign players forced him into an unexpected situation.
The regulations made him ineligible to continue playing competitively for Barcelona, eventually leading to his departure.
Several years later, in 2019, Real Madrid seized the opportunity and signed the talented playmaker on a five-year contract.
Although expectations were high, Kubo never managed to establish himself in Madrid’s senior squad. Instead, he spent time on loan at multiple clubs across Spain to continue his development.
Ultimately, he found stability at Real Sociedad, where he has grown into one of La Liga’s most influential attacking players.
Real Madrid will be eager to move to the top of the La Liga standings as they get set to take on Real Betis in a Matchday 4 fixture in La Liga tonight.
Under new manager Jose Mourinho, the Merengues have made a strong start to the season, winning three in three, with their latest match ending in a 4-0 triumph against Malaga at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The fact that superstars like Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe, and Vinicius Jr. have made strong starts to the season, while new signings Marc Cucurella and Ibrahima Konate have also made positive impact bodes well for Los Blancos.
The aim will be to secure their fourth victory in a row and continue building the momentum especially with the UEFA Champions League opener against Inter Milan coming up next.
Going into the game, though, Real Madrid will once again be without as many as seven players as Aurelien Tchouameni, Endrick, Eder Militao, Ferland Mendy, Rodrygo Goes, Thiago Pitarch, and Raul Asencio remain unavailable.
New teenage signing Sergio Martinez has been named in the squad and could be in line for his debut at Estadio de La Cartuja tonight.
Having made some rotations to the starting XI last time out against Malaga, here’s how Mourinho could set his Real Madrid team up tonight.
Defence
Thibaut Courtois is a confirmed starter in goal for Real Madrid and will be looking for his second clean sheet of the new campaign.
As for the defensive line, there is likely to be only one change with Ibrahima Konate coming back into the team in place of Antonio Rudiger, who made his first start of the season vs Malaga.
Dean Huijsen has been a constant fixture at the heart of the defence so far and that is unlikely to change.
At right-back, Trent Alexander-Arnold appears set to retain his place after an impressive display in his first start of the season last weekend. It means, new signing Denzel Dumfries will remain on the bench. Marc Cucurella, meanwhile, should start again on the left side.
Midfield
Bernardo Silva was one of the players that Mourinho rotated against Malaga, and is expected to return to the lineup tonight against Real Betis.
The Portuguese international has done fairly well in his new role as part of the double pivot alongside Federico Valverde, who will retain his place in the team.
It would mean Eduardo Camavinga misses out after having a decent game on his first start of the season last weekend.
Jude Bellingham has been in spectacular form since the start of the season, already racking up two goals and two assists from three games. Back in his preferred role as an attacking midfielder, he will start there again tonight.
Attack
Moving into the attacking unit, Mourinho is expected to make one key change as Arda Guler should replace Brahim Diaz on the right flank after scoring Real Madrid’s fourth goal against Malaga coming on as a substitute.
What it also means is that blockbuster summer signing Yan Diomande will have to wait for his first start for Real Madrid.
Kylian Mbappe has already scored four goals in three games, making a blistering start to the season and will be aiming to build on that as he chases a hat-trick of Pichichi Trophies.
Rounding off the attacking trident will be superstar Vinicius Jr., who will also be hoping to get among the goals.
