Former Atletico Madrid prodigy making a strong case for Real Madrid breakthrough | OneFootball

The sheer quality of Real Madrid’s La Fabrica academy has been highlighted lately following the rapid breakthrough of Thiago Pitarch.

Now, more and more youth players are coming into the spotlight, with Jesus Fortea being one of the potential candidates to make a breakthrough.

The 18-year-old right-back has recently experienced a whirlwind five days that have propelled him back into the centre of the conversation at Valdebebas, reports MARCA.

The next big thing at La Fabrica?

Following a stellar outing in Castilla’s away win against Lugo last Saturday, Fortea delivered a masterclass this Wednesday in the youth team’s historic victory in the UEFA Youth League.

This win is particularly significant as it takes Real Madrid back to the Final Four for the first time in six years, and Fortea’s performance under the watchful eye of the first-team staff was a clear statement of intent.

This surge in form is likely to catch the eye of Alvaro Arbeloa, who was the primary advocate for signing Fortea from Atletico Madrid back in 2022.

Alvaro Arbeloa is well aware of Jesus Fortea’s strengths and weaknesses. (Photo by Ben Roberts Photo/Getty Images)

Given the current boom at La Fabrica, where academy graduates are becoming a constant fixture in the senior squad, Fortea is firmly putting himself forward to be the next name on that list.

With 16 matches for Castilla and an undisputed starting role in the Youth League, Fortea is proving to be one of the most reliable stars in the academy.

As he prepares to join the national team for the Under-19 European Championship qualifiers, the feeling in Madrid is that a first-team breakthrough is quickly becoming an inevitability for one of Arbeloa’s favourite pupils.