Real Madrid are currently on the lookout for a new right-back with Dani Carvajal set to miss the entire season due to a knee injury.
The Spanish giant have since been linked with various players across Europe and manager Carlo Ancelotti now has two key decisions to make: whether to rely on a player from Real Madrid’s youth academy or turn to the winter transfer market for reinforcements.
Bayern Munich’s Alphonso Davies and Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold are tipped to arrive in the summer but Madrid are willing to take a bold step before then.
According to journalist Rodra (via Madrid Xtra), the academy’s top candidate for the role is Loren Aguado, a promising talent from Castilla.
Aguado, born in 2002, has emerged as the standout option to step in during Carvajal’s absence. The Castilla right-back is seen as the most prepared player among the academy prospects, both physically and tactically.
Ancelotti in the past few years has been criticised for not fully utilising academy players in the first team but that might change.
Aguado’s attributes make him a strong fit for the demands of Real Madrid’s first team and obviously, the club has to make a decision.
The 22-year-old is described as a well-rounded footballer, capable of supporting the attack and defending solidly. His physical development and experience have earned him a reputation as one of the academy’s most reliable players.
Within the first-team dressing room, his abilities are well-regarded, further reinforcing the belief that he could help address the temporary gap at right-back.
Whether Ancelotti is yet to make a decision, the young defender appears to be the academy’s best bet for making an impact in Carvajal’s absence.
