Real Madrid changed transfer tack a few years ago after seasons spent chasing the latest Ballon d’Or. They started looking at young players who nobody outside of the top clubs' scouting bubbles had heard of.
A 16-year-old by the name of Odegaard turned up in January 2015 and Odriozola, Vinicius, Rodrygo, Lunin and Kubo followed. The plan was for those six to eventually make up more than half the team.
The club remains notoriously hard for young players to break into so MailSport looks at the youngsters trying to ensure Europe's big spenders start winning with kids.
Martin Odegaard, 21 in December
If you haven’t seen his pass for Real Sociedad’s first goal this week find it and enjoy the vision and precision of a player who looked a little boy lost at Real Madrid when he signed but now looks like a complete midfielder.
He can play those perfect passes, he runs for ever, is strong, intelligent and looks happy as a number 10, wide where he plays for Norway, or even in the two in a 4-2-3-1.
He has a two-year loan deal at Real Sociedad and has already bought a house in the region. But surely he will end up back at Real Madrid sooner rather than later.
Star quality: 9/10
Rodrygo Goes, 19 in January
There were whispers around Real Madrid this summer that 'never mind Vinicius the real star is going to be Rodrygo'.
He has the difficult task this season of training and playing occasionally for the first team as well as playing for the B-team.
It’s a situation that Odegaard always found difficult and at the weekend Rodrygo ended up playing for neither because the first team thought they needed him and then didn’t use him. On Tuesday he did get on as a substitute and scored within two minutes.
His control has impressed Zidane and he looks destined to become a Madrid first team player.
Star quality: 9/10
Vinicius, turned 19 last July
He was a breath of fresh air for bored Real Madrid supporters last season dazzling defences with bold runs. He lacked the cool head to finish the chances but fans were just glad to have someone lift the lethargy from the Bernabeu.
This season it’s been tougher for him. With Eden Hazard recruited and Gareth Bale back in Zidane’s good books there is more competition for places and he continues to struggle in front of goal.
But he put all that behind him on Tuesday with a screamer into the top corner that left him in tears as he was mobbed by team-mates. He has power and intelligence, if the finishing improves there will be no limits on his progression.
Star quality: 8/10
Andriy Lunin, 21 next February
Oustanding last summer in the Under-21 World Cup. His big problem is finding a club that will play him in Spain.
Last season he was sent out on loan to Leganes but barely got a game as Pichu Cuellar stayed as first choice. Now he is at Valladolid but Jordi Masip is keeping him out.
When Keylor Navas left Real Madrid it might have given them the chance to recall him but instead they signed Alphonse Areola. It’s hard to see how good he is while he struggles for minutes.
Star quality: 7/10
Alvaro Odriozola, 24 in December
Played ahead of Dani Carvajal on Tuesday and darted up and down the right wing from full-back.
Despite being the oldest of this pack of youngsters he is perhaps the player with most work to do to secure a future at Real Madrid.
Signed from Real Sociedad in 2018 he can look electric going forward but he gets overpowered defensively. If he learns from lightweight full-backs like Jesus Navas he could make it. If not, a good career perhaps as a wide midfielder away from Madrid beckons.
Star quality: 7/10
Take Kubo 18 last June
Barcelona’s loss has been Real Madrid's gain. Kubo was pinging passes to Ansu Fati in La Masia until the Catalans got embroiled in problems over under-age players and he had to go back to Japan.
They tried to re-sign him but Real Madrid tried harder and now they have him out on loan at Mallorca. He looks like a boy among men, until he gets on the ball. Then the rivals bounce off him as he shows strength defying his small frame.
He is quick and skillful and looks destined to star with Rodrygo in the same way he once impressed alongside Fati at Barcelona.
Star quality: 8/10
Brahim Diaz, 20 last August
Signed from Manchester City in the summer Zidane is a big fan.
Towards the end of last season he was given more minutes than most expected and that might have continued into the start of this campaign had he not suffered injuries that limited his pre-season.
Like Kubo he can play behind the forwards, he is bold and has bundles of ability.
Star quality: 8/10
And also young and hoping to make at Madrid… Sergio Reguilon, 23 in December, and Luka Jovic, 22 in December
These two are not quite in the same category because Reguilon came up through Real Madrid’s youth system and Jovic was bought after already becoming a household name in the Europa League.
Will they make it? Reguilon is really impressing out on loan at Sevilla and will be knocking on the door of the Spain squad soon. His biggest barrier to success at Madrid is that it seems Zinedine Zidane is not a fan.
Jovic, meanwhile, has struggled so far. He has been signed to score goals and he might have got off the mark if it were not for VAR’s millimetric redefinition of ‘level’ and ‘offside’ on Tuesday against Osasuna.
Star quality: Reguilon 8/10, Jovic 7/10
black_fire
57
Am I the only one who thinks its not Diaz's picture in the line up
Sha_Hee_N
44
why dont you remember about hakimi , ceballos , eder militao ,vallejo