Jose Mourinho Keeps Close Eye on Sergio Martinez in Real Madrid Castilla Debut

Real Madrid Castilla faced Juventud Torremolinos on Saturday, and in the box at the Alfredo Di Stéfano was none other than Jose Mourinho. After the first team's match against Real Betis on Friday, Saturday was a rest day before training resumed on Sunday. Even so, the Portuguese did not miss the opportunity to watch the Castilla match.

The match featured many academy players who have been training with the first team since the preseason: Javi Navarro, Jorge Cestero, Mario Rivas, and Sergio Martinez. The latter made his debut in the match and continues his rapid rise less than a week after first setting foot in Valdebebas.

Remember that the club officially signed him on Monday, he had his first training session with 'Mou' and the first team on Wednesday, was called up for the Betis match and registered for the Champions League on Thursday, traveled with the first team on Friday for the match against the Verdiblancos, although he did not see minutes, and on Saturday he officially made his debut with Castilla.

Just like on Friday at La Cartuja, Martinez started on the bench, but this time he did see minutes, coming on at the start of the second half to replace Cestero. This could be a clear strategy to manage minutes between the two academy players who will most likely be available to the Portuguese on Tuesday, when they make their Champions League debut against Inter Milan, due to the team's numerous absences in midfield.

A match that will be complicated for Madrid, as the Italians come motivated after the comeback they made against Napoli on Saturday, who were winning 0-2 at the San Siro, but thanks to Marcus Thuram and Lautaro Martinez, they were able to turn it around, winning 3-2 and staying close to Roma in the title race.

For their part, the Merengue team must wash away the painful defeat against Betis last Friday, which moved them away from Barcelona at the top of the table; if the Catalans take advantage of the opportunity and beat Valencia on Sunday, they will become sole leaders with 12 points. Dropping points in this way is something Madrid can no longer afford, because it was what they did last season: dropping meaningless points in matches they could easily have won and that, in the end, cost them the title.