4 of Real Madrid's potential breakout stars of 2024/25 season

Real Madrid have added Kylian Mbappe this summer to a squad that is already reigning Spanish and European champions, raising the bar for everyone else even more.

Endrick has also arrived, sealing his pre-arranged transfer from Palmeiras. But, even at the age of 18, the Brazilian striker is a fairly well known quantity given the hype around him for months on end. It may also be challenging for him to live up to that, especially after a poor Copa America and competition from several of the best attacking players in the world.

Carlo Ancelotti will know exactly how to tweak his squad to get the best out of it, with Madrid baring a firm target on their back at home and abroad.

These are four emerging young players who could be crucial to that...

Arda Guler

Madrid fans finally caught a glimpse of what Arda Guler is capable of in the final stages of last season when, having put frustrating injury setbacks behind him, he scored five times in five La Liga games in April and May. That was predominantly as a winger, but the 19-year-old has the versatility to play virtually anywhere across the attacking third of the pitch.

Guler, who cost €20m from Fenerbahce last summer, then went on to have a stellar Euro 2024 with Turkey and is now primed for his first proper go at being a Real Madrid player.

The biggest headache for Ancelotti is the good kind for a manager: how does he get Guler into the same midfield or attack as Eduardo Camavinga, Federico Valverde, Aurelien Tchouameni, Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo, Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappe and Endrick?

Nico Paz

Nico Paz moved from Tenerife to the Spanish mainland to join Madrid's youth ranks aged 12 and is now on the fringes of the first-team at 19. The Argentina Under-20 international is best deployed through the middle as an attacking midfielder or centre forward, but can play on the wings.

It was on the right flank where Paz made several of his eight first-team appearances last season, although he supported Rodrygo up front in a central area in a Champions League group stage win over Napoli and scored the decisive goal from distance.

Last season, it was also ten goals in 29 league games for Castilla, making it a successful campaign.

Mario Martin

Mario Martin is a hard-working defensive midfielder who has thrived with Castilla over the last three seasons. Assistant first-team coach Davide Ancelotti is reported to be a fan of the 20-year-old due to his unselfish style and willingness to put in a physical shift for the good of teammates.

His biggest obstacle is going to be competition from more senior players, but the possibility of emerging as a squad option, especially if injuries affect others, is there.

There have been rumours of interest from Valencia, Espanyol and Real Valladolid, but Martin's preference appears to be staying and he was rewarded with a place on the pre-season tour.

Jacobo Ramon

The centre of defence is virtually threadbare, with Nacho Fernandez leaving in June, Leny Yoro choosing Manchester United and David Alaba enduring a slow anterior cruciate ligament recovery. It leaves only Antonio Rudiger and Eder Militao, with Jesus Vallejo back from his latest loan to bulk numbers.

Fans were really excited by Joan Martinez during pre-season, with the 16-year-old already likened to Bernabeu legend Sergio Ramos. He was tipped to be part of the UEFA Super Cup squad until an ACL injury in training wrecked his chances of a whirlwind breakthrough any time soon.

But the centre-back problem hasn't changed, so the place that might have been filled by Martinez now looks like it will go to Jacobo Ramon instead. He featured on the first-team bench for a handful of La Liga games in February and appears the most promising of the remaining Castilla defenders.

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