Three Real Madrid academy prospects weighing up futures despite plans for first-team pre-season

Three Real Madrid academy prospects weighing up futures despite plans for first-team pre-season

In less than a week, Real Madrid will kick off their pre-season training under the guidance of new manager Jose Mourinho.

With a number of first-team players currently away at the 2026 FIFA World Cup or away on vacation after being eliminated from the tournament, the Portuguese will not have his full squad available for the start.

As such, a number of young prospects from the youth and reserve ranks are expected to be involved in pre-season, aiming to convince Mourinho to retain them in his plans.

Joan Martinez, Jorge Cestero, and Cesar Palacios to be involved

Now, according to The Athletic, three Real Madrid starlets, Joan Martinez, Jorge Cestero, and Cesar Palacios, are all expected to be involved in the pre-season with the first team.

However, at the same time, the report adds that all three La Fabrica prospects are weighing up their futures at the club and are exploring their options.

What does the future hold for Joan Martinez? (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

Martinez, 18, is one of the most highly-rated young defenders to have come through at La Fabrica in recent years. The centre-back has been in and around the first-team picture without making a debut yet.

It had been previously suggested that he could be promoted to the senior setup next season, although chances might become hard to come by if Real Madrid add another central defender, after already having brought in Ibrahima Konate.

In that scenario, a departure could become possible, with Valencia already exploring a loan move.

As for Cestero, he was one of the academy prospects who made his debut last season under Xabi Alonso. The 20-year-old defensive midfielder ended the season with five senior appearances and gave a good account of himself.

Palacios, too, made his Real Madrid first-team debut last season under Alonso’s successor Alvaro Arbeloa and played seven matches.

Palacios has a number of suitors. (Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey/Getty Images)

A versatile attacking midfielder, the 21-year-old is already attracting interest from clubs like Deportivo La Coruna and Como.

Real Madrid likely to retain future control

As things stand, it is still unclear as to whether Martinez, Cestero, and Palacios will remain at the club or move on in the summer. For now, what is clear is that they will be starting pre-season under Mourinho.

Nonetheless, if the youngsters decide to explore new opportunities, Real Madrid are likely to retain some degree of control over their futures by selling only some percentage of their economic rights and by inserting buyback clauses for the future.

It is a formula that has worked wonders for Los Blancos in recent years, with the club already pocketing more than €100 million from deals involving ex-academy players this summer.