Ancelotti ready to bank on Real Madrid Castilla midfielder for first team duties next season | OneFootball

Journalist Sergio Lopez de Vicente recently shared in AS that Mario Martin, Real Madrid’s 20-year-old midfielder, is on the verge of securing a spot in the first team despite his shaky performance against Milan during the first pre-season game.

The outlet mentions that while the final decision about Martin’s future is still pending, considering his demand in the market, all signs indicate that he is the leading candidate among the youth squad, even surpassing Nico Paz.

AS reports that Carlo Ancelotti holds Martin in high regard. He admires the midfielder’s seriousness, work ethic, and respectful demeanour.

Moreover, Martin is a passionate Real Madrid fan, and his personality mirrors that of Nacho, another dedicated player known for his strong performance on the field and quiet presence off it.

Signs are pretty positive

Recently, Ancelotti hinted at Martin’s potential inclusion in the first team during a press conference before the match against Milan. Ancelotti stated,

“Of course, we are missing players, but we have a good team right now: Courtois, Modric, Lucas Vazquez, Fran García, Guler, Ceballos, Endrick, Brahim, Mario Martin… it is a good opportunity to show good football, as always.”

Mario Martin is expected to be a first team player next season. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)

Notably, Martin’s name was mentioned alongside established first-team players, which is significant.

The trajectory seems clear. Ancelotti’s plan appears to involve promoting Martin to the first team on a permanent basis. Despite a rocky start in the match against Milan, where he made an early mistake that nearly led to a goal for the opposition, he quickly apologised and recovered.

Martin knows the challenges

The midfielder is aware of the challenges he will face if he remains with the first team. He would be at the bottom of the midfield pecking order, behind players like Aurelien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga, Federico Valverde, Jude Bellingham, Luka Modric, and Dani Ceballos.

However, he is undeterred by this daunting prospect. For him, staying with the first team is a dream come true, and he is determined to work hard and earn his place.

His confidence stems from the fact that the upcoming season could feature up to 72 games, necessitating regular rotations within the squad.

This reality presents opportunities for him to play and prove himself. Martin’s mindset is focused on seizing these chances and demonstrating his worth.