Real Madrid have had a very productive season under Jose Mourinho, with the returning Portuguese tactician trying to implement his ideas with the squad.
Mourinho did not have a full roster to work with for much of pre-season, with many of Real Madrid’s World Cup stars given extended breaks after progressing far in the tournament.
This gave some Castilla stars an opportunity to be involved in the first team, and one player who has caught the coach’s attention is Alexis Ciria.
According to academy expert Ben Fernandes, as relayed byDefensa Central, Mourinho wants Ciria to remain with Castilla this season, where he can continue developing while staying close to the first-team set-up.
Mourinho is a big admirer of Ciria
Ciria has been one of the academy players to make an impression during Real Madrid’s pre-season preparations.
The youngster has contributed one goal and one assist, while his confidence on the ball and willingness to express himself have caught the eye.
Mourinho a fan of Ciria. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
Fernandes claims Mourinho is a major admirer of the teenager and intends to continue monitoring him closely throughout the season.
However, the Portuguese coach also believes there are aspects of Ciria’s game that still need refining.
Rather than keeping him permanently around the senior squad and potentially limiting his competitive minutes, the preferred route is therefore for Ciria to continue playing regularly with Castilla.
First-team debut cannot be ruled out
Remaining with Castilla does not necessarily close the first-team door. Fernandes suggests Ciria could continue receiving opportunities around Mourinho’s squad, and even a competitive La Liga debut should not be completely ruled out.
However, the plan with the highly rated 18-year-old seems to be built around patience rather than rushing him into the spotlight.
Mourinho wants the teenager nearby so that his progress can be followed directly, with other players like Joan Martinez also set to receive a similar mandate.
Castilla could be the right environment
For Real Madrid, this looks like a sensible approach.
Ciria has impressed in pre-season. (Photo by David Balogh/Getty Images)
An impressive pre-season can create enormous excitement around a young player, but the jump from promising friendly performances to becoming a reliable senior option is substantial.
At 18, Ciria needs competitive minutes more than occasional appearances from the first-team bench. Castilla can provide those minutes while allowing Mourinho to call on him whenever an opportunity emerges.
Real Madrid’s academy continues to produce players attracting attention both internally and elsewhere in Europe.
Los Blancos have already generated money worth around €199 million through player sales and income from rights retained in former academy products.
However, with talents like Ciria, there may also be an opportunity for a chance in the first team, and it remains to be seen how Mourinho handles his development.