Real Madrid staff make remarkable claim about youngster – ‘I assure you, he’ll be better than Pau Cubarsi’

Real Madrid’s academy has been enormously successful at producing footballers, just not for Real Madrid in recent years. Currently the only established academy talents in the first team are in their thirties in Lucas Vazquez, Dani Carvajal and Nacho Fernandez, while Fran Garcia looks to be on his way out this summer. However one of their emerging talents is making waves at Valdebebas.

“Today it is difficult to say this… but I assure you that Joan Martinez is going to be a better footballer than Pau Cubarsi,” Relevo were told by staff at the training ground. Martinez, who is the same age as Cubarsi, is currently operating in their under-19s, after jumping two levels in a month. Currently working under Alvaro Arbeloa, he could play for Castilla next season.

Already cutting an imposing figure, Martinez is 188cm tall (6ft.2′), and quick too, winning almost all of his duels. He has been drawing comparisons with Sergio Ramos for his mane of hair, personality on the pitch, and ability on the ball too. His standards are high, say the Madrid-based outlet, and Martinez is a high-achiever on the pitch and in school, often winning due to his competitive nature – he is also described by his teammates as ‘an animal’.

Native to Valencia, Martinez was a target for Barcelona, Villarreal, Atletico Madrid and teams from abroad, but Real Madrid ended up winning the race for one of the most promising defenders in Spain. The question as ever will be whether Martinez is given a chance. If Martinez is as good as Real Madrid think, perhaps he can buck the trend.

In recent years Real Madrid’s policy of loaning players out or selling them with buyback clauses seems to be paying more dividends, with the likes of Rafa Marin and Miguel Gutierrez performing well this year. It remains to be seen if they will be brought back, and if Real Madrid can handle their devlopment well once they are.