Sergio Martínez, the young 19-year-old midfielder who arrived in the First Division with a great debut goal, continues his path to Real Madrid from Castilla. After paying the termination clause of 3 million euros, the Madrid club incorporated the Cantabrian player into its squad in the last transfer market. Just two weeks after his farewell to Racing Santander, Martínez made his LaLiga debut with a goal against Villarreal, which caught the attention of Florentino Pérez and José Mourinho, who included him in the Betis squad shortly after his arrival.
Although Mourinho included him in the team for the match against Betis, the player did not appear in the starting eleven and has since developed his career in the reserve team. In the First Federation he has participated in eight games, six as a starter, accumulating 489 minutes without scoring or assisting. His career at Castilla shows a constant presence, with five consecutive starts after his debut against Juventud Torremolinos and regular participation in matches against Sant Andreu, Ibiza, Antequera and Algeciras. In addition, he played 61 minutes in the U-20 Intercontinental Cup against Santiago Wanderers, where Real Madrid won its first title with the white shirt.
The signing of Martínez also gave him access to Real Madrid's A list for the Champions League, where he took Ferland Mendy's place. His inclusion was a result of regulatory requirements, as he did not meet the seniority criteria to appear on list B. The player has also been called up for the U-20 Intercontinental Cup, where Real Madrid won its first title in that competition.
Martínez's path to the first team is compared to other stories of Castilla players. Vinicius and Rodrygo were promoted after just five and three games respectively, while Fede Valverde needed a full season and a loan before establishing himself. Casemiro and Martin Ødegaard also came through the reserves before becoming key players, although Ødegaard ended his career at Arsenal. The case closest to Martínez is that of Sergio Canales, who in 2010 left Racing at the age of 19 to join Real Madrid under the direction of Mourinho, although his time was brief and he then continued his career outside the Bernabéu.
While Canales and his former Racing teammates take on Mourinho's team, Martínez is still waiting for an opportunity in the first team. Their decision to leave the First Division to compete two categories below is perceived as an immediate setback, but it opens the possibility of a more solid future. With minutes and starts at Castilla, his Real Madrid dream is simmering, and the next step will depend on Mourinho's assessment and the player's development in the reserve team.