Real Madrid has a serious problem on the right flank of defense ever since Dani Carvajal's injury. The captain won't return until next season and a top-quality replacement needs to be found. Lucas can't do it on his own and the intention is to rely, at least for the moment, on the youth team. Carlo Ancelotti has analyzed it and has a clear choice: Jesús Fortea.
Jesús Fortea, born in 2007, is Real Madrid's first transfer since Carvajal's injury. He's a second-year youth player who's shining under Arbeloa. Ancelotti hasn't lost sight of him and likes what he's seen. So much so that, according to Marca, Fortea won't return to the youth team; the order has already been given.
Jesús Fortea will go little by little: First he'll train several times with the first team, while he's gradually incorporated in the squad. The idea is that he'll have the opportunity when Lucas needs a rest and there's no other option of a certain level available, such as converting Militão to right-back.
Fortea has been on Ancelotti's radar for a long time, but now the Italian has made the final move. He already has confirmation from Florentino that no one will be joining Real Madrid in the winter transfer market. Therefore, he'll have to do with what he has for the rest of the season.
Jesús Fortea: Neither Arnold nor Pedro Porro
There has been a lot of talk about what Real Madrid will do with the right-back during the winter transfer market. However, the decision has already been made: there will be no transfers. Neither Arnold nor Pedro Porro will arrive, at least for now.
Jesús Fortea's choice is firm and Arbeloa already knows that he won't be able to count on him for the next few months. Now, everything will depend on the performance of the Real Madrid youth player, ready to make the leap to the first team.
At 17, Jesús Fortea is one of the most promising youth players at La Fábrica and Carlo Ancelotti doesn't want to miss the opportunity to try him out. He has a contract until 2026 and the intention is to renew it sooner rather than later. Therefore, he's expected to secure his continuity for more years at Real Madrid.
There are big plans for Jesús Fortea: he has been tipped as Carvajal's replacement and has the chance to make a career for himself in Madrid's first team. Now it's up to him to take advantage of it.