Who is Yusi, teenaged left-back in Real Madrid Intercontinental Cup final squad?

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has taken Yousseff Enríquez Lekhedim, a highly rated young defender, to Qatar.

Given Real Madrid’s sizeable injury list, Carlo Ancelotti has dipped into the club’s pool of academy talent to complete his squad for this week’s Intercontinental Cup final. The head coach is also keen to run the rule over the brightest prospects in ‘La Fábrica’ - and at left-back, Ancelotti has called up a player who is very highly rated within the Spanish club.

Yousseff Enríquez Lekhedim, more commonly known as Yusi, has travelled to Qatar in the absence of injured first-team regular Ferland Mendy. Should anything happen to Fran García, Madrid’s expected starter at left-back against Pachuca, Yusi is next in line to play.

Who is Yusi?

Born in Madrid in October 2005, Yusi joined Madrid’s youth set-up in 2017. Since then, he has risen quickly up the ranks at Valdebebas. Last summer, indeed, he was promoted from the under-19s straight to Castilla, the club’s ‘B’ team - a move that saw him skip Real Madrid C, Los Blancos’ third team. Castilla’s head coach, club legend Raúl González Blanco, was eager to add Yusi to his ranks ahead of a planned push for promotion from Spain’s third tier. While Castilla haven’t delivered on those ambitions so far this season, Yusi has established himself as a fixture in the team, starting 15 out of 17 league games and scoring one goal.

This isn’t the first time that Yusi has been named in the first team’s matchday squad. The 19-year-old was also among Madrid’s travelling party for the Champions League win at Atalanta seven days ago, before also being called up for the weekend LaLiga draw with Rayo Vallecano. Although he’s yet to make his debut for Ancelotti’s team, Madrid’s decision to register him for the Intercontinental Cup means he will earn his first senior winners’ medal if the Spaniards win in Qatar, regardless of whether or not he makes it onto the field.

Yusi closing in on senior Moroccan bow

Yusi’s development has not gone unnoticed in Morocco, his mother’s native country. He represented Spain until the under-17s, at which point he switched to the Moroccan national set-up. He has played five times for the Moroccans’ under-20s, and earned his first senior call-up in March, five months short of his 19th birthday.

Yusi’s performances for Castilla have led to interest from clubs both in Spain and abroad. For example, Madrid have received approaches from Germany, but these overtures were rebuffed by club and player, who in December 2023 agreed a new deal that ties him to the Spanish and European champions until 2028. Several LaLiga clubs are keeping close tabs on his progress; one is Getafe, who were linked with a move for the teenager in the summer.

Within Real Madrid, he is seen as a player in keeping with the club’s traditions: he is an adventurous, attacking left-back with the ability to wield significant influence going forward. That’s the kind of impact that Madrid are not getting from either Mendy or García. A player who has benefited from the physical development he has undergone in recent times, Yusi boasts a sweet left foot capable of delivering dangerous crosses, and is also credited with outstanding decision-making in the final third. While Yusi is yet to chalk up any assists for Casrtilla this season, that is at least partly down to the side’s lack of a goal-scoring center-forward.

Real Madrid vs Pachuca: when, where?

Real Madrid take on Mexicans Pachuca on Wednesday December 18, 2024, at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar. The Intercontinental Cup final is due to kick off at 12 noon ET/9:00 a.m. PT.

While Madrid qualified automatically for the final as Champions League winners, Pachuca - the CONCACAF Champions Cup holders - have had to come through two rounds to reach the trophy decider. Los Tuzos beat Brazilians Botafogo 3-0 in the Derby of the Americas, before a penalty shootout triumph over Egyptians Al Ahly in the Challenger Cup.