Real Madrid have done a wonderful job when it comes to signing the best young talents from around the globe and developing them into superstars at Santiago Bernabeu.
The same cannot be said about their ability to promote their own youth and developmental players to the senior level though.
Real Madrid have had a number of very highly-rated talents in their youth ranks over the years, but have not been able to give them a proper chance in the senior team. As a result, we have seen many of them depart the club in search of playing time.
Just this summer, we have seen both Sergio Arribas and Carlos Dotor leave the club on a permanent basis. And now, another name has joined that quickly growing list, although he has left on a temporary basis for the time being.
As reported by Bayer Leverkusen’s official website, the club have signed the right-back Melvin Ukpeigbe. He joins them on a season-long loan from Real Madrid’s U18 team and they will have an option to buy included in the deal as well.
Ukpeigbe is just 16 years of age and he has represented Spain at the youth level. He joined Real Madrid back in the summer of 2017 from Rayo Vallecano.
Ukpeigbe is one of the most highly-rated youngsters in the Real Madrid youth ranks. Now, it remains to be seen how things turn out for him in Germany. If the 16-year-old performs well, one would expect the Bundesliga side to take up the option to sign him on a permanent basis.
Bringing through their own youngsters into the senior team is one of the areas that Real Madrid need to improve in moving forward. We have seen the likes of Achraf Hakimi, Theo Hernandez and Martin Odegaard leave the club and become superstars elsewhere.