Real Madrid poach teenage defender from Atletico Madrid

Real Madrid have once again raided their city rivals’ academy, with 18-year-old centre-back Aimar Garcia poised to sign a pre-contract agreement at Valdebebas after rejecting an extension with Atletico Madrid, Fabrizio Romano has confirmed.

The move continues a trend that began when Jesus Fortea broke the long-standing non-aggression pact between the clubs in 2022. Since then, Gabriel Castrelo, Ariel Nkoghe, Andrés Corcoba and Sergio Mestre have all swapped Atleti’s academy for Real Madrid’s famed La Fabrica, and Garcia will now follow the same path.

Standing at almost two metres tall, Garcia is regarded as one of Atletico’s brightest prospects, but the club have been unable to persuade him to renew terms that expire this summer. Instead, the defender will return to the club where he spent the first part of his youth career, having originally been part of Real Madrid’s academy until 2021. A brief spell at Getafe followed before Atletico secured his signature in 2023.

Garcia’s decision comes at an opportune moment for Real Madrid. With David Alaba set to leave at the end of the season and Antonio Rudiger attracting strong Premier League interest, first-team opportunities at centre-back could open up. While club officials are already scouring the market for reinforcements, the door may yet be ajar for a La Fabrica graduate to force his way into Carlo Ancelotti’s plans.