Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti faced the press this Saturday ahead of the trip to Leganés for the 14th matchday of La Liga. To everyone’s surprise, Ancelotti dropped a statement that reignites the debate about the club’s academy players.
After the November FIFA international break (the last one of 2024), Real Madrid is back in action. On Sunday, Carlo Ancelotti and his team will face Leganés, the first of the nine remaining fixtures this year. For this match against Sébastien Haller’s side, the Madrid squad, under pressure to avoid any mistakes, will have Kylian Mbappé and Vinicius Junior at their disposal. Despite several defensive injuries, the coaching staff, who could rely on reserve players, seems unwilling to change their current approach.
Ancelotti plays down hopes for La Fábrica’s youth players
During the press conference on Saturday, the 65-year-old Italian coach addressed the topic of reserve players joining the first team. Contrary to reports suggesting that Real Madrid’s management is eager to rely on Raúl González’s reserve side, Ancelotti clarified that giving these players game time is not a priority. Instead, he emphasised his reliance on regular starters regardless of the congested schedule.
“The objective of this club is not to give minutes to academy players. But they are very important,” he stated.
Reinforcing his stance, the coach—whose job was reportedly on the line recently—confirmed that he would always pick his best XI as long as they remain fit.
“My job is to always choose the best possible XI. I won’t change that just because we’re competing in multiple tournaments.” This clear statement will hardly reassure Raúl Asensio and other academy hopefuls.
A January transfer window in sight?
Although the 21-year-old centre-back, who made his professional debut against Osasuna after Éder Militão’s injury, is set to start alongside Rüdiger on Sunday, he could find himself back on the bench once Aurélien Tchouaméni returns. Speaking to the press, Ancelotti also hinted at potential January reinforcements.
“Winter signings? We’ll assess the situation after the last match of the year,” the Italian tactician remarked.
Should Real Madrid face setbacks, such as a poor result against Liverpool next Wednesday, the technical staff might not hesitate to bring in a defender during the winter transfer window. If suitable options prove limited due to inflated market prices, Sergio Ramos—still awaiting a new opportunity—could be the club’s fallback solution. For now, Ramos appears to be the most cost-effective option for the Madrid giants.
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