One of the positives of Real Madrid’s pre-season tour of the USA has been the emergence of 16-year-old defensive prospect Joan Martinez.
The centre-back prodigy, who joined Real Madrid only last summer, was taken on the US tour due to a lack of numbers in the defensive department.
And the youngster made the most of whatever opportunities came his way during the tour, making a big impression on the coaching staff and the management.
New contract coming up
So much so that, MARCA reports that Real Madrid already have a plan in place to secure the long-term future of Joan Martinez by offering him a new contract.
Indeed, the Merengues want to shield the 16-year-old prodigy in light of his sudden explosion that has alerted clubs like Manchester United and Chelsea.
With Ancelotti impressed by Martinez, Real Madrid are already preparing a new plan for the promising 16-year-old defender. A plan that has two clear objectives: first, a new contract; the second, a change of sporting status.
As regards the first point of the plan, Real Madrid have already made the first moves to sign Martinez to a new contract that improves on the current one in terms of length and conditions.
Martinez’s current deal runs until 2026 with a release clause that is standard for La Fabrica players. However, given his recent boom, the Spanish capital club are aware that they need to increase his salary as well as increase the release clause amount.
The club, therefore, will soon sit down to negotiate with Martinez’s agent, Javier Coso, to implement their plans.
New sports strategy
The second point of the plan refers to Martinez’s new sporting status, which will change after the great sensations that the teenager transmitted during the tour.
Real Madrid will apply the protocol of ‘player with first team projection’, meaning that there is a good chance that Ancelotti will want to have him around on a day-to-day basis, as in the case of goalkeeper Fran González or Nico Paz.
The club will also want him to compete at a higher level than expected in the Juvenil A team. There is the option that he could play under Raul in Castilla or alternate between first-team appearances and playing for Real Madrid C.