Real Madrid will be without David Alaba for much of 2024, and having missed out on Leny Yoro and lost Nacho Fernandez, it has left them with just three fit and natural central defenders.
It has also opened up an opportunity for some of the academy players.
Jesus Vallejo, Eder Militao and Antonio Rudiger will be Carlo Ancelotti’s options, while Aurelien Tchouameni can also fill in at the back. It looked as if 16-year-old Joan Martinez would be the player to train with the first-team and even out numbers, and potentially even enjoy minutes.
However that was cruelly taken away from him, after Martinez tore his anterior cruciate ligament on his return from the preseason tour to the USA. As reported by Diario AS, 19-year-old Jacobo Ramon has been registered with La Liga and given the number 31 shirt.
He will still be available for Castilla, but the report confirms that he has won the battle with Raul Asencio to become the next option up for Ancelotti in defence. Ramon will no doubt see if he can’t skip Vallejo in the pecking order too, as the ex-Real Zaragoza man is not in the club’s long-term plans. Ramon will be part of their squads too.
Real Madrid have insisted that they will not sign another centre-back after losing out on Leny Yoro to Manchester United. It’s a decision that clashes with Ancelotti’s view and even surprised the squad. There have been rumours linking them to Aymeric Laporte, but Los Blancos would only accept a move if it was on a free.