The Future of La Fabrica: Will Real Madrid’s Youth Players Shine or Fade?

“Monday Musings” return! Yes, it is not Monday but midweek musings will do.

The recent influx of Real Madrid youth talent being integrated into the first team has become a surprising storyline of Ancelotti 4.0. Yes, this development has been forced upon the Italian manager by an injury crisis and a board unwilling to invest in stop-gap January signings, but it is a storyline nonetheless. Raúl Asencio has staked his claim for a permanent first-team spot, Daniel Yáñez made his La Liga debut, and the trio of Loren Aguado, Diego Aguado, and Chema all featured in Madrid’s 5-0 thrashing of Deportiva Manera in the Copa del Rey. Both Loren and Diego Aguado have been called up to the Spanish Super Cup alongside Raúl Asencio and Daniel Yáñez.

What does this all mean? Will any of these four players end the season with meaningful first-team minutes? Maybe, maybe not. My theory is that we’ll see more La Fábrica players woven into the first-team dynamic, but with players spending 2–3 years in the fold rather than becoming long-term fixtures like Nacho, Carvajal, or Lucas Vázquez. This may be where the future lies for these canteranos and others coming into the first team: not decade-long careers, but shorter stints playing meaningful roles—much like Esteban Granero, José Callejón, Javi García, Álvaro Arbeloa, Joselu, and others.

Some have suggested that Raúl Asencio is closer in quality to a Miguel Torres than a Nacho Fernández. Setting aside that argument for a moment, if we accept the premise that the comparison to Torres is true, it would mean Asencio is a valuable, serviceable player for 2–3 seasons. Miguel Torres was an important role player during the back-to-back title wins in 2007 and 2008, playing over 20 matches a season and logging nearly 2,000 minutes in those campaigns. He even displaced the aging Roberto Carlos during Capello’s comeback year. If Raúl Asencio’s trajectory mirrors Miguel Torres—earning two La Liga trophies, two Spanish Super Cups, and playing a valuable role throughout—he, the club, and the fanbase would likely take that deal right now.

There is a long list of players on Madrid’s radar to fill these roles: Nico Paz, Miguel Gutiérrez, Rafa Marín, Mario Gila, Pablo Ramón, and Sergio Arribas, among others. Yet if we’ve learned anything from the performances of Raúl Asencio and Loren Aguado, it’s that the unheralded, underhyped 20-somethings with something to prove often rise to the occasion. Raúl Asencio was never rated as highly as Joan Martínez, Jacobo Ramón, or Marvel, yet he looks as if he’s been in the first team for years. Loren Aguado has quietly risen through the ranks from Benjamín B (Under-9s) to Castilla. “You see him one day, and you don’t fall in love with him. You see him two days, and he starts catching your attention. He’s the kind of player who does the simple things right, makes the correct decisions, and grows on you,” a source told MARCA during the preseason tour. Players like that can have a role at Real Madrid.

On a recent podcast with Ruben Skjerping, I argued that maybe our youth players simply aren’t as good as we rate them. Look at the UEFA Youth League champions from 2021 and where they are today. None are playing meaningful roles for top-six sides in Europe’s big five leagues. I expected more from that generation. Ruben countered, suggesting that some players just “work” at Real Madrid, citing Sergio Reguilón’s success under Solari. That argument resonated with me. There does seem to be an intangible link between a successful player at Madrid and the unique qualities required to thrive here—qualities that often go beyond raw talent.

More often than not, it comes down to mentality over talent. Raúl Asencio may not be as gifted as other center-backs at Valdebebas, but he had the confidence and composure to hit a 60-yard pass to Jude Bellingham on his La Liga debut at the Santiago Bernabéu, stepping up after Eder Militao’s ACL injury. He seized the moment rather than being daunted by it. That play was more than just a 60-yard pass; it captured a multitude of narratives and sub-plots but, most importantly, highlighted Raúl’s mental strength.

Ultimately, the pathway from La Fábrica to the first team is one defined not just by talent but by the ability to rise to the occasion when the moment demands it. Players like Raúl Asencio remind us that Real Madrid isn’t just about cultivating superstars but also about finding players who fit the club’s ethos—those with necessary quality but also the mental strength to thrive under pressure. Whether their time in the spotlight is brief or enduring, these players can contribute to the club’s legacy in meaningful ways. The next chapter for La Fábrica talents will be written not just by those we expect to succeed but by those who seize their opportunity when it comes.