Manchester United, AFC Bournemouth and Brighton & Hove Albion are among the clubs keeping a close watch on Real Madrid’s Castilla.
Tuesday’s edition of AS reports several European clubs have their scouts regularly in attendance to watch Real Madrid Castilla, which is the Spanish club’s reserve team.
From the Premier League, Manchester United, Bournemouth and Brighton have sent their officials to follow Real Madrid’s young talents.
The La Liga side have promoted Thiago Pitarch, César Palacios and Manuel Ángel from Castilla to their first team this year.
AS say Los Blancos’ academy is a ‘gold mine’ and could mean much more in the summer. In other words, the Spanish giants can raise funds by selling some of their youngsters.
PL trio scouting Real Madrid academy
The young players of Real Madrid have already caught Manchester United, Bournemouth and Brighton attention.
In addition to the Premier League trio, scouts from Juventus, Fiorentina and Girona are also in the stands regularly.
A source told AS that officials from 10 Serie A sides are often present to watch Real Madrid Castilla in action. Juventus and La Viola are likely in the list.
The newspaper makes no mention of the talents that Manchester United, Bournemouth or Brighton have pinpointed.
Attractive options on show and deals possible
According to the report, several Real Madrid Castilla players have received approaches and offers.
They add ‘substantial offers’ have arrived from the Premier League. AS state ‘practically 40% of Castilla, if desired, could already be sold’.
Real Madrid have collected €483m from selling their academy graduates over the last two decades. The fee could rise further through sell-on percentage.
In recent years, Los Blancos sold some of their young talents with a buyback clause. If this clause isn’t exercised, Real Madrid can earn [50% of profit] from their future sales.
For example, Real Madrid sold Nico Paz (pictured below) to Como in August 2024. Sport Witness covered claims from Spain of €9m and €10m buyback option for 2026 and 2027 respectively.
Nico Paz
Our take: PL clubs unlikely to agree clauses
Manchester United, Bournemouth and Brighton are among the English clubs scouting Real Madrid’s young talents.
The Premier League clubs are unlikely to accept relatively low buyback clauses, such as what Como agreed to, and will likely be reluctant to accept such clauses at all.
That may not matter, Real Madrid see Castilla as a way to make money quickly rather than long term. If the offer from a Premier League club is higher than from a club agreeing to a buyback clause, then it stands a good chance of success.