On a cold night in Murcia, Real Madrid Castilla forward Daniel Yáñez found himself facing the reserve team's defeat against Real Murcia, when a call changed his destiny. On the other end of the line, a club employee informed him that he would be drafted by Real Madrid's first team, changing his career.
From Defeat to Call-Up
It was a Friday night, and Real Madrid was playing against Girona in Montilivi the next day. With several key players like Rodrygo, Gonzalo, and Chema out, Carlo Ancelotti decided to include the young forward in the team list. In less than 24 hours, Yáñez went from playing 30 minutes with Castilla to making his La Liga debut with the first team.
A Dream Debut
At 17 years old, Yáñez fulfillled a dream he had cherished since childhood. After years of hard work, he became the youngest debutant in Real Madrid's league history since Ødegaard.
The debut happened with the scoreboard already in favor of the whites, but that didn't take away from the excitement of the feat. As he entered the field, Yáñez wore the number 42, a symbolic number that ties him to the Madrid youth academy.
Yáñez himself expressed his excitement: «I've been dreaming of this moment for a long time. Since I was born, I've always been a Real Madrid fan. I'm working every day for more moments like this to come».
A Talent Forged in La Fábrica
Yáñez's path to the first team began in Cádiz, his hometown. After several years in the Cádiz youth academy, the forward signed with Real Madrid in 2019, where he quickly began to stand out.
In his first year at La Fábrica, he was key for Juvenil A, where he became the top scorer for his team in the UEFA Youth League. His performance in the youth competition allowed him to make the leap to Castilla, where Raúl González Blanco gave him the opportunity to continue growing.
The New Vinícius
Although his career is just beginning, Daniel Yáñez has been labeled as the "new Vinícius" by many, due to his speed, dribbling, and goal-scoring ability. Like the Brazilian, Yáñez has great potential, and his leap to the first team marks the start of a new era in La Fábrica.
With his debut in the elite, Daniel Yáñez has shown that he is one of the great talents of La Fábrica. At just 17 years old, he has captured the attention of Carlo Ancelotti and Real Madrid fans, who are eager to see much more of him in the coming years.
His story, marked by sacrifice and determination, inspires other young people who dream of wearing the Real Madrid jersey. Without a doubt, the future holds many more thrills for him.