He Carlos Belmonte It was the scene of an unusual and very revealing image: eleven Real Madrid youth players coincided in the same official match. The final result not only left a shameful cup elimination… it exposed, once again, the contradictions of an exemplary quarry who does not always find room to grow within Real Madrid itself. That was the real blow of reality for La Fábrica.
I had to defend Vini in some training, I was prepared
Loren Aguado
“It is the best quarry in the world. There are grown players in La Fábrica. They know they have a great opportunity, the first team coach knows them better than anyone. They know the demands of Madrid and they know that I am counting on them“. The words of Alvaro Arbeloa They have support. Also the data. The latest study of Instituto CIES places the white youth team as the most prolific of the five major leagues: More than 180 footballers trained in Valdebebas have played in elite matches since the 2005/06 season until today.. An indisputable success… that almost never finds continuity in the first team.
Many leave, few stay
In this context, a striking scene occurred. Eleven footballers trained at La Fábrica participated in the same official match. Nine did it even under the white umbrella (Fran García, Asencio, David Jiménez, Cestero, Gonzalo, Carvajal, Palacios, Manuel Ángel and Vinicius). Two, as rivals (Loren Aguado and Javi Villar). An unequal distribution (9-2) that seemed to anticipate a predictable outcome. But The match broke any previous logic and ended up pointing out those who had to find their way away from Valdebebas.. The result was a double victory for those who understood that, to continue dreaming of making a living from football, first You had to get away from the shield under which you grew up.
Goal by Javi Villar (1-0) in Albacete 3-2 Real Madrid
The explanation is not complex. The white quarry produces talent in quantity and quality, something extraordinary for the club and for Spanish football. However, this flow does not translate into youth players established in the first team. A contradiction that is repeated year after year. Far from the spotlight, without the daily pressure and constant demands, many footballers release their football. They feel important, they lose the fear of making mistakes and play naturally. They don’t hide. They compete… and that’s how simple it is to understand what happened at Belmonte.
More fear of error than freedom
“I had to defend Vini in some training, I was prepared”he confessed Loren Aguado in The Quintana Slate. The winger represents like few others the concept of a total youth player. He arrived at Real Madrid as a child and went through absolutely all the stages of the reverse funnel of La Fábrica: from pre-benjamines to debuting with the first team after fifteen years in the white house. His performance does not allow discussion. With confidence and without complexes, Loren signed the most important game of his career.
Loren Aguado: “I had to defend Vini in some training, I was prepared”BRAND Radio
It was a real torment for Vinicius throughout the match. Firm at the back, brave in attack and even close to scoring. High-level actions that did not end in a goal by pure miracle. In the end, he looked up at the sky of Belmonte and left a sincere message, without resentment: “Night of emotions at Belmonte. Maximum respect, but today I can only celebrate this pass with my teammates and our fans”. His performance is the best reminder that dreams are not fulfilled, they are worked on. And sometimes they chase each other far from home.
Another former member of La Fábrica shone at his side. Javi Villarwho played for Real Madrid between 2021 and 2024, complied with the former’s law by scoring Albacete’s first goal after beating Mastantuono in a set piece action. “In the end it’s a goal… and I don’t think I have to apologize. I haven’t done anything in the first team to do it either. I don’t think many people remember me.”he explained in La SER. A phrase that summarizes the reality of so many white youth players who pass through Valdebebas almost in silence.
Because when the road closes, there is no choice but to leave. Shake off insecurities and complexes. Search for minutes, responsibility and your own identity away from constant comparison. That is why the white fans, who prioritize winning above all things, have always demanded more prominence for the quarry. And now, with the blackboard in charge, knowing like few others the talent at home, against Albacete the bet was doubled: He opted for Cestero in the center of the field and David Jiménez at right back. Courageous decisions in a complex context. And maybe that was the mistake. Excess exposure. That’s how incongruous life is. Neither so much nor so little.
They were not responsible for the defeat, but criticism did not take long to appear. Cestero, furthermore, will be accompanied from now on by a phrase too big for anyone. “It is the best 6 in Spain”. A label that does not belong to you and that weighs. The midfielder came out to play and did what he could. It wasn’t his best afternoon, but a familiar feeling was once again evident. More fear of error than freedom to express oneself. Perhaps, if he had worn the opposing shirt that night, his football would have flowed differently. Because the blow of reality that La Fábrica received at the Carlos Belmonte does not speak of a lack of talent. It talks about context, pressure and different paths to reach the same dream. You just have to see Nico Paz in Como to understand everything.
