Real Madrid agree deal for Racing Santander midfielder Sergio Martinez

Real Madrid have reached an agreement with Racing Santander midfielder Sergio Martinez, according to Italian transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano.

The 19-year-old is set to sign a contract with the Spanish club until 2030, with Real Madrid expected to pay his €3m release clause. Martinez has also chosen Real Madrid despite receiving offers from clubs in England, Germany and Saudi Arabia.

Martinez is primarily a central midfielder and will be registered with Real Madrid’s reserve side. However, he will be eligible to play for the first team when required, meaning his development will take place within the club’s structure while remaining available for senior involvement.

Several reports had suggested Real Madrid planned to loan Martinez back to Racing Santander for the current season before bringing him into the squad next campaign. Romano has rejected that possibility, saying the midfielder will join Real Madrid directly rather than remaining with his current club on a temporary basis.

Martinez has already featured in Racing Santander’s opening two matches of the current season and has scored once. Those appearances take his overall record for the first team to 15 matches, in which he has scored one goal and provided one assist.

The agreement represents a further step in Real Madrid’s move for the young midfielder, with the club securing his services through a long-term contract and the payment of the release clause. Despite his age, Martinez has already made an impact at senior level for Racing Santander, contributing a goal in the early stages of the new campaign.

His registration with the reserve team will allow Real Madrid to manage his progression while preserving the possibility of first-team football. Under the reported arrangement, Martinez will not be sent back to Racing Santander on loan, despite earlier reports indicating that such a move could form part of the deal.

Romano’s account also indicates the scale of the interest in Martinez, with English, German and Saudi clubs having made proposals before the player decided that Real Madrid was his preferred destination. The midfielder is therefore expected to continue his career in Madrid after agreeing terms that will keep him at the club until 2030.

For now, the available details concern an agreement between Real Madrid and Martinez, alongside the €3m payment required to activate his release clause. The next stage will be his registration with the reserve side, while retaining the right to appear for Real Madrid’s first team.