🚨 Five academy players and key absences: Arbeloa’s first Madrid squad

Álvaro Arbeloa has officially begun his tenure at the helm of the Real Madrid first team with a lineup that has left no one indifferent for the Copa del Rey clash against Albacete Balompié.

In his first list of call-ups, the coach from Salamanca has made his commitment to the "Factory" clear, including several promising players he knows well from the youth categories.

The big news from this lineup is the inclusion of five key names representing the club's future. In the defensive line, Arbeloa has called up David Jiménez and Joan Martínez, two defenders with great potential who will look to take advantage of the absences in the backline.

Meanwhile, the midfield is refreshed with the arrival of Manuel Ángel, César Palacios, and Jorge Cestero, players who bring dynamism and that competitive identity so characteristic of the Madrid DNA.

Beyond the new faces, the list is notable for the absence of key players, which has forced the coach to look downwards. Stars such as Thibaut Courtois,Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo Goes, and Antonio Rüdiger are not part of this first expedition.

These absences, combined with the transition on the bench, open a unique window of opportunity for the less regular players and the youth academy graduates to show they are ready for the demands of the white team.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

📸 OSCAR DEL POZO - AFP or Licensors