Left-footed, the No 10 on his back, a gluey touch and a predator’s instinct in the box. A classic playmaker, always eager to drop deep and initiate attacks. With a temperament beyond his 14 years (born February 9, 2011). And, above all, far from the spotlight – don’t bother looking for him on social media, he’s not on it. He flies on the pitch, but never lets his head do the same. That’s the mantra. That’s the profile of Alberto Ruiz – one of the brightest talents to come through La Fábrica in recent years. The next big thing.
And as AS has learned, he’s just signed a new contract with Real Madrid, extending his stay at Valdebebas until 2028 – three more seasons. Madrid is backing Alberto, and Alberto is backing Madrid.
The deal is a reaffirmation of mutual trust – a way to keep shaping each step with patience. To secure the future (the agreement runs through to the end of his youth phase) and focus squarely on the present. The perfect recipe to keep polishing a diamond who’s already caught the eye at the Spanish Football Federation (he’s a youth international), and who keeps raising expectations year after year, dribble after dribble, goal after goal. His most recent statement: 34 goals and 19 assists during the 2024-25 season for Infantil A.
Next up is Cadete B. With patience. The same approach used inside the club for these processes. And the same mindset shown by a teenager whose maturity, alongside his undeniable talent, is often singled out in the corridors of Valdebebas. Which isn’t easy when the praise never stops. “He’s the best in the world at his age,” said José Ramón de la Morena during the Futures tournament, which Alberto dominated as both top scorer and MVP.
High-speed trains and sacrifice
That’s how he’s progressed since joining La Fábrica in 2019 – with hard work, sacrifice, and perfect harmony. Under the guidance of academy director Manu Fernández, the club has managed Alberto’s development with pinpoint care. And continues to do so. Every party moving in sync. Because this is no ordinary case. It wasn’t until this past season that his family moved to Madrid.
Until then, Alberto trained in Valdebebas just two days a week, spending the rest at home in La Solana – with his people. A sacrifice and learning experience his father Manuel described to this newspaper from the Promises tournament in Orlando, Florida: “We drive from our town to Ciudad Real, and from there we take the AVE. We usually get back around 11:00 p.m., but it’s better that way – having him at home. At his age, it’s essential to be with his parents.”
They’ve drawn clear lines. “We only want to be there for them and make sure they enjoy it,” added his mother Maribel, also speaking from Florida. Family – the best shield for a boy growing up in a sport, football, that can distort reality with its media frenzy. Even more so at a club like Madrid, always in the limelight.
A friendly match and a hat-trick
It all began with a hat-trick. A story first reported by Lanza newspaper. “My dream is to make it to the first team and play at the Bernabéu with Real Madrid,” Alberto said two years ago. He still remembers the day he learned about Madrid’s interest: “When they told me, I went crazy.”
The key figure was Moisés García, La Solana’s youth coordinator, who managed to set up a friendly against Real Madrid. And that’s where Alberto stole the show. Three goals that left Madrid smitten. A week later, the call came and he was handed the white shirt. Since that hat-trick, he’s scored many more. The latest 34 for Infantil A. The next ones await in Cadete B. Performances that have already made him one of the brightest young prospects in the worldfor his age. That friendly? A blessing, no doubt, in the eyes of La Fábrica.