Sergio Martínez Called Up to Real Madrid First Team

Sergio Martínez has moved into Real Madrid’s first-team squad sooner than expected. José Mourinho included the midfielder in the group traveling to Seville for Friday’s La Liga match against Real Betis at La Cartuja.

Real Madrid recently paid Racing Santander Martínez’s release clause. He arrived with plans to join the club’s reserve team, RM Castilla, while training around the first team. That progression accelerated after Mourinho named him for the first time.

Martínez developed through Racing’s youth system and made his senior debut for the club, scoring against Villarreal in the Primera División. Real Madrid completed his signing on Aug. 31, and he received his first opportunity with the senior squad at the next available occasion.

His inclusion came at the expense of academy player Alexis Ciria. Mourinho still has seven players unavailable, including Tchouaméni, Asencio, Mendy, Militão, Rodrygo, Thiago Pitarch and Endrick.

The squad includes defenders Dean Huijsen, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ibrahima Konaté, Marc Cucurella, Álvaro Carreras, Antonio Rüdiger, Denzel Dumfries and Mario Rivas. The midfielders are Jude Bellingham, Eduardo Camavinga, Federico Valverde, Arda Güler, Bernardo Silva, Cestero and Martínez. The forwards are Vinícius Júnior, Kylian Mbappé, Carlos Espí, Brahim Díaz and Yan Diomande.