Joan Martinez made waves during Real Madrid’s pre-season tour last summer, impressing with his talent and confidence under Carlo Ancelotti.
He featured for 78 minutes, including a notable 33-minute performance against Barcelona, gaining praise for both match play and training sessions.
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Unfortunately, his rising momentum was halted in August when he suffered an ACL injury, sidelining him for several crucial months.
Now 17, Martinez is entering the final recovery stages and is once again being considered for promotion to Real Madrid’s first team.
With Jesus Vallejo moving to Albacete and Jacobo Ramon heading to Como, central defensive options at Madrid are noticeably thinning.
Real Madrid currently has five centre-backs: Dean Huijsen, Antonio Rudiger, Eder Militao, Raul Asencio, and David Alaba, whose future is unclear.
The club is also eyeing Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konaté, but negotiations are expected to be difficult and likely won’t materialize soon, reports MADRID UNIVERSAL
Martinez’s recovery has thus become crucial, potentially making him a valuable asset to the team if fully fit in time.
He is expected to first regain fitness with Castilla under Alvaro Arbeloa before Xabi Alonso makes a decision about promotion.
Martinez’s return could be timely reinforcement, especially if Alaba leaves and new signings don’t arrive as planned.
