5 Real Madrid academy graduates who are flourishing elsewhere
Considered one of the best academies in the footballing world, Real Madrid's La Fabrica has produced some of the best players in the game. Since 1942, "The Factory" has seen numerous stars come and go. Many of them have made their mark in Europe and other continents of the world.
However, it is not easy for a player to graduate from La Fabrica and rise through the ranks to the first team at the Santiago Bernabeu. With the Galacticos policy - bringing football's biggest stars to Real Madrid - it is a rare feat to see a youngster in the first team.
Daniel Carvajal, Nacho Fernandez, and Lucas Vazquez are just some of the few players who have graduated from the academy and currently play for Real Madrid. For the majority of The Factory's graduates, greener pastures lie in other clubs or countries.
The sheer number of graduates that currently ply their trade at other clubs is rather stunning, and here are five of the very best. These graduates may have left the famed Santiago Bernabeu, but they remain immersed on football's biggest stage.
#5 Pablo Sarabia | Sporting CP (on loan from Paris Saint-Germain)
Now 29-year-old, much of Pablo Sarabia's successes have come with Paris Saint-Germain. However, the Spaniard's story started in Spain.
Joining Real Madrid's academy in 2004, Sarabia graduated in 2009 and was soon called up to Castilla, Real Madrid's B team. Soon enough, the star settled into life with Castilla, playing 49 games and scoring 15 goals over the course of two seasons. It didn't take long for other clubs in Spain to notice the star, especially as he played just one game for Los Blancos' first team.
| Real Madrid are looking at Sarabia, they see him as a player who can provide quality squad depth. @ojogo [🥇]
🚨| Real Madrid are looking at Sarabia, they see him as a player who can provide quality squad depth. @ojogo [🥇] https://t.co/5EkDR0RUb6
A move to Getafe came calling in 2011, and Sarabia went on to cement himself as one of the best players in the club.
He then moved to Sevilla in 2016 and performed tremendously, scoring 43 goals in 151 appearances. This caught the eye of PSG, who snatched him up in the summer of 2019.
The 29-year-old attacking midfielder is currently on loan at Sporting CP, joining last summer. He has enjoyed a good display in front of goal, scoring 14 goals in 39 games in all competitions.
#4 Sergio Reguilon | Tottenham Hotspur
Like Sarabia, Sergio Reguilon was deemed good enough to be offered a professional contract right after graduating from The Factory. However, Reguilon certainly had more chances to showcase his talent. He played 22 first-team games for Real Madrid, providing three assists.
It wouldn't be enough to keep Reguilon at the Santiago Bernabeu, as the star was often loaned out to other clubs in Spain.
OFFICIAL: Sergio Reguilon joins Tottenham from Real Madrid 🤝 https://t.co/8yAFoLyUqE
He joined La Fabrica in 2005 and remained there for a decade before graduating. He was then sent to Castilla in 2015 and the Spaniard played for Madrid's B team for two seasons, making 48 appearances.
Even when he eventually got his chance at the Santiago Bernabeu, it didn't last long, with the club loaning him out to Sevilla in 2019. Eventually, Tottenham Hotspur came calling in the summer of 2020, and the star has flourished, playing 65 games for the English outfit.