5 players that you may not know played in the Real Madrid Academy

Spain v Italy: Semi Final - 2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championship

Juanfran (N/A-2003 in Real Madrid Academy)

Real Madrid v Club Atletico de Madrid - UEFA Champions League Final
Juanfran

Since joining in 2011, Juanfran has become one of the best full-backs in Atletico Madrid's history. He has helped his team reach two surprising Champions League finals and win La Liga in 2014.

So it is interesting to think that Juanfran actually started his career with Atletico arch-rivals Real Madrid. After graduating from the Academy in 2003, the Spanish right-back spent two years with the B team, also playing six times with the main side.

After a loan in 2006, 21-year-old Juanfran officially left Real Madrid and joined Osasuna. After four and a half great seasons he left for one of the country's biggest teams Atletico, in a way betraying his boyhood club.

Since then he has appeared in 27 rivalries against Real, including in two Champions League finals. Interesting that Juanfran's only goal against his former Madrid side came in 2009 when he was still with Osasuna. Juanfran scored a crucial game-winner, saving his club from relegation.

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Edited by Arvind Sriram
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