AS ranks Real Madrid's young signings: Some become diamonds, others fail to fulfill potential

According to AS, Real Madrid is on the verge of signing 16-year-old English midfielder JJ Gabriel, who will initially join Castilla. The deal awaits only the final details. AS took this opportunity to review the young talents Real Madrid has brought in over the years; some have blossomed into diamonds, while others have failed to fulfill their potential.

Players who impress on television are easy to spot and obvious, hence expensive. The real credit goes to discovering talent before the spotlight shines, anticipating, daring to bet, and then hoping the gamble pays off. The latest to join this list for Real Madrid will be JJ Gabriel. He is the phenomenon of today and the hope of tomorrow. He is 16 years old, a right-footed attacking midfielder who can also play on the left wing, and will start with Castilla. His signing is just pending a few details; it's practically done, to the extent that he has already been training in Madrid for several days, awaiting the official signature. He will play for Real Madrid, joining a list of gems that have both brilliance and flaws—the list of other "JJ Gabriel"s.

But before that, an important detail: why can he transfer before he is an adult? Indeed, Article 19 of FIFA's Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players prohibits international transfers of players under 18. However, there is a nuance: the clause allows transfers for those over 16, provided it is within the European Economic Area. In other words, Brazilians, Argentinians, Uruguayans, and even Africans, unless from a few countries with special agreements, must wait until they are 18 to join. But a European player can transfer to a European club from the age of 16.

JJ Gabriel turned 16 on October 6 last year, so the first hurdle has been cleared. The second is his passport: he was born in England, and since Brexit, the UK is not part of the EU, which is a problem. But a solution was found: his father is Irish and his mother is Cypriot. Therefore, if he can obtain passports from these nationalities—which he is entitled to, but requires paperwork—he will become a European player. Done. This is similar to Bellingham's situation: due to having an Irish passport, and Ireland being an EU country, he was never counted as a non-EU player. In short, JJ Gabriel can now sign for Real Madrid and become part of the aforementioned list, that list of diamonds.

Ødegaard

This is probably the most similar case. Because he was a 16-year-old boy, very popular, famous, and sought after, and Real Madrid won the bidding war. He joined from Strømsgodset for a transfer fee of just under 3 million euros. He was one of the biggest rising stars in world football but failed to deliver. He joined in January, started with Castilla, and made his first-team debut on the final matchday of the league. In his second season, he didn't play a single minute for the first team, only featuring for the reserve team. In his third season, he lasted until Christmas, during which he only got 90 minutes of first-team action in the Copa del Rey. Then began the loan cycle: Heerenveen, Vitesse, and Real Sociedad. While at Real Sociedad, he earned a second chance at Real Madrid but was barely in Zidane's plans (367 minutes in 27 games). He moved to Arsenal, was eventually bought outright, and is now captain. This is an example of talent discovered but not fulfilled.

Vinicius, Rodrygo

Similar cases, a year apart: both were discovered as teenagers but only signed when they turned 18, to comply with FIFA regulations. Vinicius joined from CR Flamengo in 2018, starting with Castilla, though this step was particularly brief: he only played five games for the reserve team (428 minutes). Eight years later, he is valued at 130 million euros (though he was once valued at 200 million, his current performance has depreciated it), and he scored in two Champions League finals. Rodrygo joined from Santos in 2019, taking the same path: he played three games for Castilla (268 minutes). Since then, he has earned the aura of miraculous Champions League goals. What happened against Manchester City is etched into the club's eternal memory. They are examples of successful players who did not leave. They arrived, grew, and stayed.

Valverde, Endrick

Examples of players returning after loan spells. Valverde was discovered as a teenager and came to Madrid from Peñarol at 18. For one season, he was a regular at Castilla (30 games, 2331 minutes, plus 6 UEFA Youth League games, 540 minutes), but there was no sign of him in the first team; he didn't make his debut. So he opted for a loan. His year at Deportivo La Coruña was indeed unremarkable (25 games with no goals or assists), after which he returned and stayed. He joined the first team, grew exponentially, and today is a first captain. Endrick is expected to follow this path, joining just after turning 18. He made his Bernabéu debut in the same summer as Mbappe, shedding tears at the venue. In his first season, he only played 847 minutes, and by Christmas of his second season, he had only played 99 minutes, so he accepted a loan. He returned after six months at Olympique Lyonnais. Now he is trying to convince Mourinho.

Takefusa Kubo

He never found his footing. In fact, he never stayed. Real Madrid signed him from Tokyo at 18. He showed some flashes in preseason but saw no room for regular appearances. Based on this premise, he began a series of loans: Mallorca, Villarreal (terminated in January), Getafe, and Mallorca again. One every year, every summer. Until the summer of 2022, when he was sold to Real Sociedad. He was 21 then. He packed his bags and left, never even making his first-team debut, not a single minute in an official match. Though not to the extent of Ødegaard, he was a player who proved his talent outside Valdebebas but failed to deliver.

Franco Mastantuono

Still to be seen. He is following the path Endrick just took. He joined at 18, after Paris Saint-Germain drove the bidding to a fever pitch. Real Madrid paid 63.2 million euros to bring him from CA River Plate (Arg). But so far, he has not met expectations. Last season, he scored 3 goals and assisted 1 in 35 games, playing 1484 minutes. By last summer, the club decided that the best option for him was a loan, but always without a buy option, as confidence in his future still exists. He is currently at Fiorentina, where he is getting stronger in a project with weak foundations. He is an undisputed starter on the right wing and has already scored four goals (972 minutes). He will return in 2027, eager for redemption.

Mink Peeters

He was once the "Dutch Guti." Protected by Guti himself, who was his youth team coach at the time. A technically gifted attacking midfielder, left-footed, with charisma. And very young: he came to Real Madrid from the Ajax academy at 16. But he encountered a painful obstacle: persistent injuries. After shining in the U19 A team, he was loaned out three times in a row: VVV-Venlo, Almere City, and Lleida Esportiu. Injuries constantly interrupted his development. Until 2019, at 21, he left completely. In total, his hell was seven surgeries. Clavicle, wrist, appendix, forearm, right ankle (twice), and left ankle. Seven times. When the eighth hip surgery came, he said enough. "I don't want to do it anymore," he admitted to AS. He never made his Real Madrid debut.

Reinier

Another diamond that left with nothing. In fact, it's one of the worst operations in recent history. He joined at 18 for a transfer fee of 30 million euros (brought from CR Flamengo, the same club as Vinicius, having just won the Copa Libertadores). He started with Castilla, playing only three games under Raúl. But jumping to the first team still seemed too far off. So began the loan cycle: Borussia Dortmund (two years), Girona, Frosinone, and Granada. In the summer of 2025, despite having one year left on his contract, he said goodbye. A free transfer. He went to Atlético Mineiro, where he currently plays. Five years after his Bernabéu debut, he packed his bags and left, never making his debut. Nothing.

Esteban Cambiasso

Finally, another precocious case. In the same category as JJ Gabriel: he joined from Argentinos Juniors at 16. The rules were different in 1996, and it was allowed. He spent two years at Castilla, with limited opportunities. 178 minutes in his first season, 3132 minutes in his second, but failed to move up to the first team. So he packed his bags and returned to Argentina on loan. He played for Independiente and CA River Plate (Arg), winning the Clausura with the latter. In 2002, nearing 22, he returned to Real Madrid, becoming part of the Galácticos dressing room for two years, winning four trophies. In 2004, he finally transferred to Internazionale. This is another example of a diamond arriving, being loaned out, and returning more mature.

History Yet to Be Written

So many stories, so many possibilities. This is a broad representation of the list JJ Gabriel is about to join. He will join Real Madrid at 16. From then on, he will begin to write his own story. Perhaps he will need a loan, returning to become an unstoppable reality. Perhaps he will arrive and break through from day one. Perhaps he will not succeed. Some cases, as you have seen, never even made their debut. But there are also those who eventually became first captains. A new chapter begins. An era. The era of JJ Gabriel. History yet to be written.