Real Madrid’s incredible starting XI featuring only Under-23 players

Midfielders - Marcos Llorente, Dani Ceballos and Federico Valverde

Llorente comes from a footballing family

Marcos Llorente is also a product of the famed Real Madrid Castilla. The 23-year-old made his debut for Real Madrid back in October 2015.

The Spaniard spent the 2016/17 season on loan at Deportivo Alaves and played alongside his future Real Madrid teammate Theo Hernandez. While on loan at Alaves, Llorente racked up 33 appearances and impressed in the top tier of Spanish football.

Llorente has mainly been used as a squad player but still managed to make 20 appearances for the first team during the 2017/18 season.

Interestingly, football runs in his blood. His father, Francisco Llorente Gento; his great-uncle Francisco Gento and his grandfather, Ramón Grosso, were all Real Madrid players. His uncle and grandfather are considered legends of the club.

Ceballos played a bit-part role under Zidane

Dani Ceballos, a graduate of the Real Betis academy, joined Real Madrid in the summer of 2017. However, he faced competition for places with the likes of Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Mateo Kovacic and Isco; and was thus restricted to just 22 appearances in all competitions in his debut season.

The 22-year-old is regarded as one of Spain’s most promising midfield prospects. He helped the Spain U19 team win the European Championship in 2015 before being named the Player of the Tournament at the 2017 UEFA U-21 Euro.

Real Madrid’s new manager, Julen Lopetegui, seems to have more trust in the player’s abilities than his predecessor Zinedine Zidane. Ceballos started Real Madrid’s first league game of the 2018/19 season and also featured in the UEFA Super Cup match as a substitute.

Valverde spent last season on loan at Deportivo

Federico Valverde is one of Uruguay’s biggest prospects. The 20-year-old midfielder signed for Real Madrid in 2016 from Peñarol and played for the Castilla team before going out on loan to Deportivo La Coruña in 2017/18.

Valverde played 24 LaLiga games in his first season in one of Europe’s top tiers and he didn’t disappoint. His performance at club level also earned him a call-up to the Uruguay senior team.

The Uruguayan is known for his ball retention abilities and tackling skills. He likes to spray the ball from deep in midfield to pick out runners and also take a pop at goal from distance.