Real Madrid ready to sell 21-year-old academy gem with a buyback option | OneFootball

With Alvaro Arbeloa at the helm of affairs, there has been an increase in the number of opportunities that youngsters from Real Madrid’s youth and reserve teams have received.

While Thiago Pitarch has been the biggest beneficiary, another player who has become a regular in the first-team dynamics is fellow La Fabrica talent Cesar Palacios.

The 21-year-old versatile attacking midfielder made his debut in the ill-fated game against Albacete in January. Since then, he has played three more times for the Real Madrid senior team.

Real Madrid not ruling out Palacios’ sale

However, according to AS, Real Madrid are considering selling Palacios in the summer transfer window while retaining a future buyback option – a formula they have used for homegrown talents like Nico Paz, Jacobo Ramon, and Chema Andres.

Several La Liga clubs have been tracking him for months, while top-tier teams from Italy, Germany, and more recently Portugal are actively exploring a move.

Cesar Palacios likely to leave. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Palacios’ contract at Real Madrid runs until 2027, but his cycle at Castilla is considered complete, and both club and player believe he is ready for a higher level.

But with regular minutes not guaranteed at the Santiago Bernabeu, he is expected to leave the club in the summer.

The intended formula is familiar: a transfer with Real Madrid retaining 50% of his rights, leaving the door open for a future return – as seen with Nico Paz, Jacobo Ramon and Victor Munoz.

Palacios, a versatile player capable of playing in multiple roles in attack and midfield, has made 66 appearances for Castilla, scoring 14 and assisting four goals.

The youngster is on the bench for tonight’s first-team Champions League clash against Manchester City and might get a few minutes depending on the situation of the match.

However, as things stand, a summer departure from Real Madrid looks set for Palacios.