Real Madrid Castilla standout keen to fight for place in first team next season | OneFootball

Real Madrid Castilla products have struggled to make the jump to tghe first team in recent years, but midfielder Mario Martin is keen to buck the trend. The hard-working defensive midfielder has his admirers within the coaching staff, but competition is fierce at the Santiago Bernabeu.

As per Marca, Martin backs himself to fight for minutes next season. He feels that with the exit of Toni Kroos and the possible departure of Dani Ceballos, who was starved of opportunities this season, could open a small window into the first team.

Assistant manager Davide Ancelotti is reportedly a big fan of his unselfish play, and thinks his ability to eat up ground could be developed into a useful squad option one day. This season he has made four appearances, and been called up on 10 occasions. If he is not a part of their plans, Martin will likely have offers to go elsewhere.

For competition, even if Ceballos left, he would still be up against Aurelien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga, Luka Modric, Fede Valverde, Jude Bellingham and Arda Guler, although the latter will be employed further up the field.