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It wouldn't be wrong to say that Real Madrid have become more shrewd in the transfer market in the past few years, choosing to create superstars instead of buying them. From breaking transfer records to build a team of superstars to investing in high potential youngsters, Florentino Perez has come a long way.
This has created a sense of harmony in the dressing room and thus, paid dividends on the field as the club have won three consecutive Champions League titles.
After being impressed by the youngsters, Perez recently stated that:
"We must not forget the important contribution of our youth set-up in the first team, which, as we all know, is one of the key parts of our identity."I said a few days ago that we would strengthen our squad with magnificent players and that's what we're doing, Odriozola is one, and so is Vinícius. "We will put our faith strongly on the young talents that one day want to be the best in the world. That's why Real Madrid are intensely strengthening the process of looking for young players."
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So without wasting much time let us take a look at the best under-23 players in the current setup who are expected to shine the most in future:
#6 Jesús Vallejo (21, Centre-back)
Signed from Real Zaragoza's youth set-up in 2015, Vallejo had already tasted top-flight football in 2014 with his boyhood club having made his professional debut as a 17-year old.
Impressed by the youngster, Perez signed the centre-back in 2015 before loaning him back to Zaragoza for the rest of the season. The young man got his breakthrough in the 2016-17 season when he helped Eintracht Frankfurt to a comfortable mid-table finish. In all, the young centre-back appeared 25 times in the league scoring 1 goal.
In 2017, he came back to Madrid and was officially unveiled as a Real Madrid player. He was given the jersey number 3, previously worn by the Madrid legend, Pepe. He has already made 11 competitive appearances for Real Madrid throughout the 2017-18 season and is widely expected to be a crucial part of the Real Madrid backline in the upcoming seasons.
#5 Federico Valverde (19, Central Midfielder)
Coming in from the youth academy of Uruguayan side Peñarol, Federico Valverde was one of the most sought-after youngsters in 2016 as he garnered interest from top European sides such as Barcelona, Chelsea and Arsenal.
Real Madrid finally won the race to sign the rising star as he went on to make 30 league appearances for the Real Madrid B-team in the 2016-17 season. He has an eye for a goal as he chipped in with 3 goals.
Valverde won the silver ball at the 2017 U-20 Fifa World Cup held in South Korea as he helped his national team to a 4th place finish. In the 2017-18 season, the young midfielder joined Deportivo La Coruña on loan, where he got the first taste of Spanish first division football, making 24 appearances in total.
Such is his talent, that Valverde has already represented his senior national team on 4 occasions, almost making it to the World Cup after being included in the 26-man provisional squad. With the talent that the Uruguayan possesses, it is not much longer before the youngster makes his Real Madrid bow.
#4 Álvaro Odriozola (22, Right-back)
A new addition to a Real Madrid squad brimming with young talent, Alvaro Odriozola has taken giant strides in the last couple of years. After being brought up in the Real Sociedad academy, Odriozola made his senior team debut in 2017.
Since then, the young right-back went on to make the Spain squad for the 2018 World Cup, showing how highly the current Real Madrid and former Spanish team boss Julian Lopetegui rates him. Although he didn't make an appearance in the tournament, it was certainly a big step forward for the young man.
Despite being just 22-years of age, he played 42 matches last term in which he scored once and assisted 4 more. Impressed by his talents, Perez swiftly pulled out his chequebook and he was officially unveiled by the Real Madrid President on 18th July 2018.
#3 Martin Ødegaard (19, Attacking Midfielder)
Often regarded as the best talent to have emerged from the Scandinavian nation in a long time, Martin Ødegaard shot to fame at just 15-years of age, as he became the youngest player ever to appear in the Tippeligaen as well as the league's youngest ever goal scorer.
Odegaard also became the youngest player ever to make an appearance for the senior national team, aged 15 years and 253 days after playing out an entire goalless draw against UAE in 2014.
After being linked to almost all the big clubs, Ødegaard finally signed for Real Madrid in January 2015 for a reported fee of around €3 million.
On 23rd May 2015, He became the youngest ever player to play for the Real Madrid First Team as he came on as a substitute for club legend Cristiano Ronaldo.
As expected, the 16-year old was loaned out to Eredivisie club SC Heerenveen for 18 months. In the 2017-18 season, the Norweigan made 24 appearances scoring 2 and assisting 1.
After a couple of tough seasons, the 19-year old is back in Madrid and will hope to be a part of Julian Lopetegui's plans this season.
#2 - Vinícius Júnior (18, Left Winger)
Another talented Brazilian, Vinicius Junior made his name in the under-17 South American Championships where he was named the tournament's best player having top-scored with 7 goals.
These performances meant that Perez and Real Madrid acquired the youngster for a fee of €46 million, which the highest amount ever paid by a club for a teenager. But since the contract was valid only after Vinicius's 18th birthday, he spent the next two seasons at his parent club, Flamengo.
Possessing electrifying pace and tremendous close control, he chipped in with 9 goals and provided 4 assists in the 2017-18 Brasileiro Série A and Copa Libertadores.
On 20th June 2018, he was officially unveiled as a Real Madrid Player and is expected to be a part of their squad this season.
#1 - Marco Asensio (22, Attacking Midfielder)
He doesn't need an introduction, does he?
Marco Asensio has already impressed everyone with his magnificent performances in the last 2 years.
Known for possessing a wonderful left foot and a knack of scoring insane long-distance goals, Asensio has all the attributes to fill the Ronaldo-Shaped void.
A product of the Mallorca academy, Asensio was signed by Real Madrid in 2014 after which he was loaned out for two consecutive seasons. It was in his second loan season at Espanyol where he truly announced himself, playing 34 times in the league.
In 2016, he was back in Madrid and made his debut in the UEFA Super Cup match against Sevilla, which he capped off with an unstoppable strike from 25 yards out. In total, he finished the season with 10 goals including one against Juventus in the final of the Champions League.
He started 2017- 18 season in a similar fashion to the previous one, once again scoring from beyond 25 yards against Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup. This time he made 53 appearances mostly playing second fiddle to the "BBC", yet he registered 11 goals in all competitions.
He has already made 15 appearances for the Spanish National Team and was part of the side in this year's World cup in Russia.
