Real Madrid academy product wants to stay and fight for a first-team spot | OneFootball

Real Madrid saw a number of academy graduates leave the club last summer in search of regular first-team minutes.

Sergio Arribas, Carlos Dotor, and Marvin Park were some of those players who chose to move on after cutting their teeth with Castilla while Rafa Marin also departed on loan to Deportivo Alaves.

Given the plethora of superstars in the first-team setup, it is not always easy for youngsters to break into the squad.

Mario Martin to stay

But that is not discouraging young midfielder Mario Martin, who is determined to stay at Real Madrid and fight for a spot in the first-team squad next season, as per MARCA.

The 20-year-old midfielder is one of the most valued young players at Real Madrid and has been on Carlo Ancelotti’s radars for over a year now.

Martin was determined to leave the club this summer to make the leap to the elite after two years as an undisputed starter with Castilla.

Mario Martin determined to stay. (Photo by JOSE JORDAN/AFP via Getty Images)

However, the impending retirement of Toni Kroos and doubts over the future of Dani Ceballos have seemingly convinced the La Fabrica graduate to change his stance.

Now, Martin has changed his mind about his immediate future and has decided to stay and fight for a place in the first team.

Eager to make the most of his opportunity

Mario Martin is determined to stay and has already informed Real Madrid as much. He wants to make the most of his chances of making a place in Ancelotti’s dressing room.

Apart from Kroos’ departure and Ceballos’ potential exit, Martin’s decision is also influenced by the fact that Ancelotti likes him a lot.

Furthermore, Martin’s confidence was also boosted by seeing himself in the last two call-ups against Alaves and Villarreal, games in which he also had minutes.

Martin has been called up to the first-team squad 20 times in total, in which he has four appearances. The youngster believes that he can gain more minutes next season and as such is determined to stay on.