Real Madrid teenager Saiz Espinosa earns senior academy chance after standout season

While Carlos Espe has emerged as one of Real Madrid’s surprises under Jose Mourinho, another player known as “Espe” is attracting attention at the club’s Valdebebas academy.

Jose Antonio Saiz Espinosa, an 18-year-old left-back, has made an impressive start to the season with Juvenil A. He has created six goals in 10 appearances, giving him the highest assist tally among players in the top four teams within Real Madrid’s academy structure.

His figures also place him ahead of several first-team players. Arda Guler has five assists, Jude Bellingham has four and Kylian Mbappe has three.

Leiva has supplied two assists for Castilla, while his Juvenil A team-mate Company has five. Saiz Espinosa’s total is particularly notable given the different demands of his position and responsibilities on the pitch.

The defender, known as “Espe” within La Fabrica, has become a regular starter under Juvenil A coach Alvaro Lopez. He has established himself despite competition for the left-back position from Lizcano, Liberto, Aguado and Valdepenas.

Manu Romero had been expected to challenge him closely for the role, but two injuries suffered since the start of pre-season have limited his involvement. Saiz Espinosa took advantage of the opening, impressing Lopez with performances that combined defensive reliability with attacking contribution.

His first appearance for Juvenil A this season came against AEK Athens, when Lizcano was suspended. That opportunity proved to be the starting point for his progression into the regular line-up.

His development has also attracted attention from coaches higher up the academy. Marc Carrasco, who manages Real Madrid C, and Castilla head coach Julian Lopez de Lerma are both monitoring his progress.

Saiz Espinosa is now in contention to return to reserve-team football, with a place in the Real Madrid C squad for Sunday’s meeting with Sanse a possibility. It would be his second call-up of the season after he represented Castilla against Alcorcon in September.

The latest opportunity has arisen because Lizcano is away with Spain Under-19s, while Juvenil A have a rest week. Although his involvement against Sanse has not been confirmed, inclusion in the Real Madrid C squad would represent another important step in his development.

Saiz Espinosa was born on 6 May 2008 in Villamanrique de la Condesa, in the Seville region. He began his youth career at Sevilla before moving to Altair.

Real Madrid’s scouts noticed him in the summer of 2023, after which he joined Cadete A and began progressing through La Fabrica. He has since reached Juvenil A and is now pushing for opportunities with the club’s reserve sides.

As Carlos Espe continues to make an impression with the first team, Jose Antonio Saiz Espinosa is developing his own route towards Real Madrid’s senior ranks.