Real Madrid 19-year-old prospect wanted by La Liga rivals | OneFootball

19-year-old Cesar Palacios has become an integral part of Real Madrid Castilla’s setup since he arrived in 2020.

The youngster has made 26 starts and 34 appearances for Raul’s side in the Primera Federacion this season, scoring two goals and establishing himself as a mainstay in the middle of the park.

Despite the club hierarchy holding the youngster in high regard, however, the player’s future looks to be increasingly away from the Spanish capital, especially given the competition for a place in the first-team midfield.

Interest from the Basque country

As revealed by AS, Athletic Club are highly interested in Palacios’ signing, and not for the first time. Having failed to sign him both last season and in the summer of 2020, they are back in the hunt for his signing.

His move, however, will not be easy for a multitude of reasons.

The Basque side hope to sign the player giving Real Madrid 50% of his rights, a clause that has become a norm for Castilla players in recent years.

They offer him a place in the subsidiary setup, with occasional call-ups to the senior side based on his performances.

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While the proposal does tempt the teenager, the Real Madrid management see the youngster as one of the academy’s crown jewels and will not let go of him easily.

After all, he signed an extension until 2027 just two years ago.

The family factor

Athletic Club have a long-standing tradition of only recruiting players with their roots directly in the Basque country.

Any new player, thus, must have been born in one of the seven provinces of Euskal Herria, a condition Palacios does not meet.

The Real Madrid star’s father, however, was born in Pamplona and does meet the required criteria, leaving the Athletic Club management in a dilemma.

The Basque side are thus now in a debate of being the son of an individual born within their accepted jurisdiction stands sufficient to grant a place in the team. Only time will tell.