Real Madrid’s Youth Academy tops global rankings for developing football players

Real Madrid proudly boasts the world’s best youth academy, La Fábrica, according to a recent CIES Football Observatory report.

The study reveals that an impressive 44 players nurtured at Valdebebas, Real Madrid’s youth facility, are currently making their mark in the top five European leagues.

This places Real Madrid ahead of other football giants such as Barcelona (40), Lyon (31), and Valencia (29). The club president, Florentino Pérez, highlighted this achievement, emphasizing the academy’s vital role in the team’s success.

Contributors to La Fábrica’s success include established players like Marcelo, Vinicius, Rodrygo, Fran García, Carvajal, Lucas Vázquez, Nacho, and Nico Paz, who has already showcased his skills with the senior team.

The financial benefits of investing in youth development are evident, with Real Madrid raking in an impressive €395.05 million in player sales since 2009.

Notable transfers include Morata to Chelsea for a record €80 million, Achraf to Inter for €40 million, and Reguilón and Marcos Llorente’s moves to Tottenham and Atlético Madrid, respectively.

Real Madrid’s strategy of retaining a percentage of player rights in sales proves to be a smart financial move, offering the club the opportunity to reclaim players or gain a share of future transfers.

Furthermore, a parallel study by CIES evaluates the quality of playing time for academy graduates, with Real Madrid securing the top spot in terms of the significance of minutes played in various competitions.

This “Capital Experience” metric distinguishes between league matches, Champions League games, and other competitions, further highlighting the club’s commitment to developing players for the highest level of competition.

As Real Madrid continues to be a leader in developing young talent, we look forward to seeing more exciting players like Nico Paz, Gonzalo, Mario Martín, Álvaro Rodríguez, Manuel Ángel, and Obrador making their mark on the soccer world.