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Joan Martinez earns praise in pre-season debut for Real Madrid

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 3, 2026, 3:45 PM

Last updated Aug 3, 2026

Joan Martinez earns praise in pre-season debut for Real Madrid

Summary

Joan Martinez earned praise from José Mourinho after starting in a pre-season match against Fiorentina. The 18-year-old defender, recovering from a previous ACL injury, impressed with his performance, demonstrating composure and aggressive defending. Mourinho acknowledged the need for improvement in Martinez's physicality against stronger opponents. The club plans to continue his development primarily with Castilla, while also considering him for first-team opportunities amid injury concerns in the squad. Martinez aims for an official debut this season after gaining experience in youth competitions.

Source Links

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By the Numbers

•Joan Martinez started against Fiorentina in a pre-season match.
•He is recovering from an ACL injury that halted his development.
•Mourinho highlighted the need for improvement in Martinez's physicality.
•Real Madrid plans to focus on his development with Castilla this season.
•Martinez aims for his official first-team debut in the upcoming season.

Latest Updates

3:45 PMYahoo Sports — Real Madrid young defender takes a step forward in pre-season earning praise from Mourinho

What they're saying

"
Back in 2024, there was such hype surrounding young Real Madrid defender Joan Martinez, who was widely dubbed the next Sergio Ramos.He even received his unofficial first-team debut, but a cruel ACL in...
— Yahoo Sports

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