Real Madrid youth team prove their worth

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez hailed their B team's promotion to the Spanish second division as evidence of the strength of the club's youth system.

Real Madrid B lost 1-0 to Conquense on Sunday, but won 2-1 on aggregate, securing promotion eight years after being relegated to the regional third division.

"Their promotion is a just reward because they deserve it. It shows that the Real Madrid youth team is in good health," Perez told sports daily AS on Monday.

After a second consecutive season without a major trophy for the senior side, the B team's success provides some much needed good news.

Perez's policy of "Zidanes and Pavons" -- combining some of the world's biggest names with players from the youth teams -- has come under fire recently.

With the likes of Zinedine Zidane unable to carry the team on their own, criticism has focused on the lack of quality players coming through the ranks to fill the gaps.

Central defender Francisco Pavon is the one player to have secured regular first-team starts recently, following in the footsteps of previous youth-team products striker Raul and goalkeeper Iker Casillas.