Former Real Madrid starlet open to future return – ‘I would be delighted’ | OneFootball

Real Madrid have parted ways with many top academy talents in recent years, primarily because of a lack of chances in the first team and severe competition.

Alvaro Arbeloa’s arrival has partially changed the situation in that sense, with several youngsters now getting a run in with the senior side.

Needless to say, the change in the situation has sparked optimism not only in academy players but also some youngsters who recently left the club but continue to be connected with Real Madrid in a minor capacity, hoping for a future return.

One such youngster is Chema Andres who left the club last summer to join VfB Stuttgart in the Bundesliga and is enjoying good prominence and numbers at his new club.

The academy graduate speaks

The Real Madrid youngster opened up about his dream to return home in a recent interview and admitted that he would be open to returning to Madrid if he ever got the call.

“That’s something the club has to decide; I would be delighted to return to Madrid, but it’s not something that worries me right now.”

“I’m very happy in Stuttgart. I’ve told my agent that I don’t want to know anything about that. When the time comes, we’ll talk and see what options we have,” he added.

He then explained why he left Real Madrid in the summer and why it made sense for him to make the move to Stuttgart.

“The sports project fit what I wanted: to make the leap to professional soccer and have the opportunity to gain experience and minutes of play.”

“I talked to coach Sebastian Hoeness, and he convinced me; I could see that he wanted me there and that he trusted me. He gave me that confidence,” he added.

Chema Andres would love to return to Real Madrid. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)

Andres then opened up about Real Madrid’s links with VfB Stuttgart player Angelo Stiller and how it was a small internal joke as to which of the two teammates would move to Madrid.

“Everyone knows about Madrid, but we joked a little: ‘Are you going there? Do I go and you go?’. But nothing else.”

“He is our best player, he is spectacular. If you watch a Stuttgart game, you will realize that he is the one in charge. He is a top-class player and could play for any team; hopefully in Madrid, or wherever he wants,” he added.

The youngster was also full of praise for Alvaro Arbeloa with whom he worked in the lower levels, and commented on how the manager helped him improve his game.

“He helped me a lot. He told me things as they were. He always tried to understand me and made me understand why he did what he did.”

“That’s why Arbeloa is the best communicator I’ve ever had. He trusted me when I was going through a difficult time,” he added.

Finally, he was asked about the difference between Barcelona’s La Masia and Real Madrid’s La Fabrica in terms of talents getting opportunities in the first team.

“Real Madrid is the best team in the world; playing there is the most difficult thing in football. That reality marks everything: the best players want to go there, and they usually get it.”

“For the academy, that raises the bar even more, in a context very different from that of Barcelona, conditioned in part by financial pressures and the dynamics of the squad,” he added.

Source: AS