Real Madrid miss out as youth target chooses Valencia move | OneFootball

Real Madrid have hit an unexpected obstacle in their plans to strengthen the youth ranks, with one of their identified targets opting to continue his development elsewhere. 

Instead of making the move to Valdebebas, the young forward has chosen a different La Liga pathway, dealing a quiet but notable setback to Madrid’s recruitment strategy.

On Wednesday, Deportivo de La Coruna and Valencia officially confirmed an agreement for the transfer of 18-year-old Galician striker Ruben Fernandez. 

Both clubs made the announcement through their official social media channels, confirming that the promising youngster will now continue his career at Mestalla rather than heading to Madrid, despite interest from Real Madrid.

Ruben Fernandez had begun the season as part of Deportivo’s reserve side, Fabril, who compete in the Segunda Federacion. 

Valencia acted quickly

Valencia moved decisively and managed to secure the striker’s signature under favourable conditions. 

The deal does not involve a fixed transfer fee, but instead includes a series of performance-related bonuses. 

These clauses will only be triggered if Fernandez manages to break into Valencia’s first team in the future.

The agreement also protects Deportivo’s long-term interests, as they have retained around 15% of the player’s rights, ensuring they will benefit financially should Valencia decide to sell him on at a later stage. 

Fernandez has already reached an agreement with his new club and will be tied down until 2028, giving Valencia a long window to oversee his development.

When confirming his departure, Deportivo kept their message brief and respectful. 

In their official statement, the club announced that they had released one of their most promising academy players and wished him “luck in his new professional stage.”