The mass exodus in the Real Madrid academy this summer appears to have no end in sight, with a host of players already leaving the club for greener pastures.
The latest to join the list could be Jacobo Ortega, who is set for a move to Strasbourg, which would make him the most expensive sale for a Real Madrid youth player yet to feature in the first-team.
But Ortega won’t be the last, with Real Madrid also expected to sanction the sale of two more youth players.
David Jimenez and Manuel Angel to leave
According to AS, Manuel Angel and David Jimenez are next in line to depart, with both players having effectively reached the end of their time at Castilla.
Manuel Angel has no future in the Real Madrid first-team right now. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
There is plenty of interest in the pair, spanning the top flight, the second division and beyond, though nothing concrete enough yet to seal their exits.
Both have been training separately and were left out of Castilla’s pre-season friendlies and matchday squads, a deliberate move to avoid any injury that could jeopardise their futures.
Once the sales of Ortega and others are factored in, Real Madrid’s academy revenue this summer is set to surpass a staggering €200 million, capping what has been described internally as a historic window.
Two highly-rated talents
Both players were key members of Alvaro Arbeloa’s treble-winning academy generation, alongside the likes of Nico Paz and Gonzalo Garcia.
Can Manuel Angel establish himself elsewhere? (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
Manuel Angel, a cerebral 22-year-old midfielder who joined La Fabrica in 2014, has long been regarded as one of Valdebebas’ finest talents.
Ambidextrous and composed, he even spent time with the first team towards the end of last season, making seven appearances. The priority now is finding an environment that offers him regular game time.
David Jimenez, meanwhile, is an attacking full-back said to possess one of the best right foots in the academy.
Praised for his leadership and forward-thinking style, drawing comparisons to Dani Carvajal, he too featured for the first team last season, impressing under both Xabi Alonso and Arbeloa.
For both, the challenge now is simply finding the right destination, with Real Madrid, the players and their entourages all awaiting the most suitable offer.