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Real Madrid have a number of exciting young talent coming through the ranks at the club who will now hope to get a look-in into the senior team with Xabi Alonso in charge.
Three such players will have a chance to make an impression on the new manager over the next month when they will play for the Spanish national team at the UEFA Under-19 European Championships.
Indeed, defenders Jesus Fortea, Victor Valdepenas, and Diego Aguado have all been named in the Spain U-19 squad by manager Paco Gallardo for the tournament in Romania starting in June.
The three players happen to be some of the most highly-rated young defenders in the Real Madrid youth setup.
🚨 Lista de 𝗣𝗮𝗰𝗼 𝗚𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗼 para preparar el #U19EURO de Rumanía.
💪🏼 La @SEFutbol 𝘀𝘂𝗯-𝟭𝟵 se concentrará el próximo lunes en Alfaz del Pi, antes de poner rumbo a Bucarest en busca del décimo Europeo.
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Aguado, 18, is a centre-back capable of playing on the left side of the defence. He has already made his first-team debut for Los Blancos, featuring in a Copa del Rey match in the current season.
Valdepenas, also 18, is also a versatile defender who can operate as a centre-back and left-back. He has been in the senior squad for one match this term but is yet to make his debut.
Fortea, a right-back by trade, is also held in very high regard at Real Madrid and will be aiming to add to his four caps with the Spain U-19 national team.
Photo by VALERY HACHE/AFP via Getty Images
Real Madrid will face two PL teams in the UCL league phase. (Photo by FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images)