Exclusive: “Without A Doubt!” – La Fabrica Expert On Liverpool Signing With ‘Tremendous Work Rate’ | OneFootball

At Real Madrid, talent alone is never enough. Every season, La Fábrica produces a new wave of prospects hoping to bridge the daunting gap between academy football and the Santiago Bernabéu. Few, however, have shown the level of growth displayed by Víctor Muñoz over the past two years after the 22-year-old speedster recently joined a fellow European superpower following a breakout season at Osasuna.

Muñoz arrived from CF Damm in 2021 as an explosive winger whose pace could unsettle defenders. Fast, direct, and fearless, the raw tools to thrive in modern football, but with a game that lacked the refinement needed to separate him from the countless attacking prospects competing for attention. What followed was a transformation that saw the two-cap Spain ace become a World Cup squad member and the first Andoni Iraola signing as Liverpool boss. 

To find out more about Munoz’s route to Anfield, we spoke to La Fabrica expert Joel Guerrero about one of Los Blancos’ most intriguing academy success stories…

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How highly rated was Victor Muñoz within Real Madrid’s academy compared to other recent prospects? “He was certainly not considered one of the main prospects to follow. In his final year in Real Madrid’s academy, despite it being his best season in white, other names such as Jacobo Ramón, Asensio, or Gonzalo attracted much more attention than he did. Obviously, he was one of the players worth keeping an eye on, but I would not say he was established as one of the reference players in La Fábrica.”

What were the key moments in his development at La Fábrica? “Until the 2024/25 season, his time in La Fábrica was not particularly remarkable. However, in that final year as a Real Madrid player, he made the leap that attracted interest from several major clubs in Spain and across Europe. Playing for Real Madrid Castilla, he scored 11 goals and provided 7 assists in 34 matches, becoming the team’s main attacking threat alongside Gonzalo García.”

What do academy staff and youth coaches say about him? “Víctor has always been regarded as a special player because of his speed and ability to attack space. Raúl González himself, who coached him at Real Madrid Castilla, consistently highlighted the importance and value Víctor brought to the team, despite not being one of the players whose contributions received the most recognition.”

He received some criticism after his performance in El Clásico. Was this fair, and how did he respond? “No, I don’t think the criticism was fair at all. Anyone who knew Víctor knew he was the last person who should have been blamed for Real Madrid’s poor season. Ancelotti decided to trust him in the Clásico that basically decided the La Liga title, but in my opinion, he should have done it much earlier. Víctor missed a one-on-one chance against the goalkeeper and immediately received a lot of criticism from Real Madrid fans. As for Víctor himself, he stayed quiet and focused on the rest of the season. In the following games, he got more playing time and, although he didn’t score, he showed some good individual moments. However, over the next few days, he also received a lot of support on social media from journalists and fans who had followed him throughout the season.”

Was there a disappointment when he left? “Generally speaking, no, because a large part of the Real Madrid fanbase did not realise the player they were losing, while the rest of us—those who knew him—understood that leaving was necessary for him to continue developing as a player. What are Victor Muñoz’s biggest strengths as a player? His power, top speed, and ability to attack space and make repeated runs. When a match becomes open and dynamic, Víctor becomes almost unstoppable by making the most of those qualities.”

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What aspects of his game stand out most when watching him live rather than in highlights? “Watching him live, especially in the stadium, allows you to appreciate his tremendous work rate. If you focus on him, you can see that he is constantly making runs in behind the opposition defence, repeating those efforts and offering himself as an outlet to attack space. It is genuinely impressive to see how he can keep doing that for the full 90 minutes without tiring.”

How effective is he defensively and without the ball? “It is obvious that his constant attacking efforts mean he cannot always contribute defensively, but he is not a player who refuses to help. He always gives everything on the pitch and, if he is able to contribute without the ball, he will do so.”

Would he be more effective in a possession-heavy side or a transition-focused team? “In a transition-focused team, without a doubt. Given Liverpool’s style of play, Víctor will be a key piece who will quickly win over Anfield. Furthermore, the typical style of play in the Premier League should allow him to showcase his best qualities. That is why I believe this is a smart signing and one that will prove successful.”

Is there disappointment in Madrid that he wasn’t brought back to Real? “Yes. Last season, because he remained in La Liga, many people who were previously unfamiliar with him were able to see the kind of player he is. As a result, now that they know what he can offer, many Real Madrid supporters have called for his return. Moreover, bringing him back to Real Madrid would have come at a relatively low cost. Combined with the fact that the right wing needs a profile like Víctor’s, this has led to a degree of disappointment among the fanbase, who also understand that the club has now lost control over the player.”