Carlo Ancelotti explains presence of Jeremy de León with Real Madrid squad for Bayern clash | OneFootball

Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti has provided an insight into the reasoning behind youngster Jeremy de León accompanying the club’s first-team on their recent trips across the continent.

Winger De León, for his part, saw his name take its place front and centre in the headlines in Spain’s capital earlier this month.

As much came upon confirmation coming to the fore that the January arrival in Madrid had been called to take his place alongside the rest of Real’s senior squad on their flight to Manchester, to face Man City in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

This came despite De León being ineligible for the competition, having not been registered for the knockout rounds.

Upon word surfacing that the Puerto Rican had been spotted amongst his travelling party once again on Monday, on this occasion for a semi-final trip to Bayern Munich, it therefore came as little surprise when the subject of De León’s sudden emergence was put to Carlo Ancelotti.

And, in his response, Real’s headmaster revealed that, amid efforts to make up numbers for pre-match activities, the 20-year-old was recommended by Castilla boss Raúl:

“When we train we want to be 20 and since there were 19 available, we have brought him lately. I spoke with Raúl, he told me that he is serious, hardworking and with a lot of quality.”

Conor Laird | GSFN