Real Madrid’s youth revolution taking shape under Xabi Alonso

It doesn’t matter that the pressure in these matches can crush even seasoned professionals – Real Madrid have entrusted their future to youth. In the recent Clásico, Xabi Alonso fielded an eleven with an average age of just 25 years and 15 days – the youngest starting lineup against Barcelona in the past 20 seasons. The Basque coach, delighted to serve as a springboard for young talent, is pushing the club toward a new identity.

Back in 2009-10, Manuel Pellegrini had taken the biggest risk in this regard until now, starting a team averaging 25 years and 72 days. But unlike Xabi, the Chilean’s gamble ended in a 0–2 defeat – with Xabi himself on the field at 28. Times have changed, though, and the future looks far brighter. Players such as Dean Huijsen (20), Álvaro Carreras (22) and Arda Güler (20) are no longer fringe talents – their growing influence, particularly in playmaking, aligns with the already stellar presence of Jude Bellingham (22). They’re younger than several players from the club’s reserve team, Castilla.

A strategy, not a facelift

This isn’t cosmetic – not a youth “makeover” for PR’s sake – but the culmination of a deliberate strategy. For three straight years, Madrid have signed 18-year-old prodigies for the first team: Güler, Endrick and now Mastantuono, who would have lowered that average age even more had he started the Clásico. In parallel, the club accelerated a respectful but decisive phase-out of veterans. In 2023, Karim Benzema (35), Eden Hazard (32) and Casemiro (31) all departed. Before the 2024-25 season, so did Toni Kroos, Nacho and Joselu, each 34. Three months ago, after the Club World Cup, it was time for Luka Modric (39) and Lucas Vázquez (34).

The drop in age becomes striking when compared with previous Madrid sides – notably the iconic 2016-17 double-winning team under Zinedine Zidane. That starting eleven – Keylor Navas, Dani Carvajal, Sergio Ramos, Raphaël Varane, Marcelo, Casemiro, Kroos, Modric, Gareth Bale, Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo – averaged 28.1 years, three more than the current group.

Today, Real Madrid have the second-youngest squad in LaLiga with an average age of 25.9, tied with Real Sociedad and only surpassed by Barcelona (25.5). On the opposite end, Rayo Vallecano are the oldest at 29.1. Madrid’s backroom structure has evolved to support this youth movement, hiring specialists like Alberto Encinas, who followed Xabi from Bayer Leverkusen for his expertise in professional development programs tailored to young players.

Madrid’s plan to inject even more youth doesn’t stop here – in fact, it’s set to intensify. Next summer, the club expects to bring back Nico Paz (21) and Chema Andrés (20) via buy-back clauses, and promote Joan Martínez (18) to replace David Alaba (33) in central defense. Xabi Alonso is also reportedly eager to hand a debut to Thiago Pitarch (18), one of Spain’s standouts at the recent U20 World Cup in Chile. “I didn’t know him well,” Xabi admitted in late August, “but I liked him from the very first day I saw him.”

Thiago’s occasional appearances could precede more permanent returns for Nico, Chema and Joan in 2026 – particularly Nico Paz. Mastantuono’s arrival postponed his return by a year, but not beyond that. Madrid can re-sign him from Como for just $9.6 million – a bargain given the Argentine international’s rapid rise. Reports in Italy claim Inter Milan are preparing a desperate $62 million bid, but it’s futile: Como’s hands are tied, and Madrid hold the final word.

The same goes for Chema Andrés, one of the revelations of the Bundesliga since joining Stuttgart three months ago. His buy-back clause, around $10.7 million (after being sold for just $3.2 million), makes him the natural heir to Dani Ceballos, who is expected to depart next summer.