Real Madrid are set to face their sternest test of the 2024/25 season as they go up against an in-form FC Barcelona outfit in the first El Clasico of the campaign on Sunday.
Heading into the contest, Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has a number of injury woes to deal with as Dani Carvajal, David Alaba, Rodrygo Goes, and Thibaut Courtois have all been ruled out of the contest.
Jesus Fortea called up to training
In order to deal with the lack of depth in the right-back position due to Carvajal’s absence, Ancelotti has called up Real Madrid academy gem Jesus Fortea to first-team training today, reports MARCA.
With Carvajal’s absence and Madrid’s defensive concerns, the Italian manager has turned to La Fabrica’s most promising full-back in Fortea.
The former Atletico Madrid starlet is a player whose name has been highlighted by both the technical secretariat and first-team coaching staff for the past two years.
Sources within the club state that “he has the potential to be a Madrid player for many years”.
While Ancelotti plans to address Carvajal’s absence using first-team players, Fortea stands out as his preferred youth prospect. His delayed promotion to first-team training was due to a muscle injury that sidelined him for two weeks, from which he has now fully recovered.
Although a final decision will not be made until this evening, it would be surprising to see Fortea included in the squad for the Barcelona match.
However, his inclusion in training the day before El Clasico demonstrates the coaching staff’s faith in a player who is likely to make his first-team debut at some point this season.