Rodri, Baena y Yeremy Pino poised to make Villarreal history at the World Cup | OneFootball

In 1997 Fernando Roig took charge at Villarreal with José Manuel Llaneza, launching an academy to feed the first team. Nearly three decades on, three homegrown stalwarts are on the brink of World Cup history for the club.

According to El Periódico Mediterráneo, this is the first time the club have three academy graduates with a chance to win the tournament, a vindication of the Miralcamp project built to develop talent for the senior side.

Rodrigo Hernández, the 2024 Ballon d'Or, overcame a serious knee injury and excelled against France. He arrived in 2013 for Roda’s Juvenil A, commuting daily from Castellón to Miralcamp. He nearly quit that first year, but debuted in 2016 and moved to Atlético Madrid in 2018 for 20 million, and is now a Manchester City legend.

Álex Baena arrived young from Roquetas de Mar, rose through the ranks and won the Europa League at 20. A lack of minutes led to a loan at Girona before he returned. Last summer he joined Atlético Madrid for 42 million plus 13 in add-ons, earning a World Cup starting role and impressing against France.

Yeremy Pino signed in 2017 for Cadete A and progressed rapidly, starting the Europa League final against Manchester United at 18. After five seasons in the first team he moved to Crystal Palace last summer for 30 million, and has featured against Saudi Arabia and Uruguay. Villarreal’s academy is close to leaving a lasting mark on Spanish football.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo