Since Xabi Alonso took charge of Real Madrid's bench, his approach has gone far beyond immediate results.
Xabi Alonso understands that a winning team is built with patience. That's why he's strongly committed to the young talents who've come up through the ranks at the white house. That's why he's implemented changes aimed at steady but firm growth, with the youth academy as the central axis of the project.
The coach is clear that he can't limit himself to producing players just to sell or loan them out. He wants Real Madrid to once again rely on footballers developed at La Fábrica who become pillars of the team. That's why, in addition to working with the first team, he devotes special efforts to supervising and caring for Castilla and its gems.
The young talent who can't leave
Within this strategy, Xabi Alonso has decided to stop the departure of a young defender who was on the radar of several European clubs. Despite tempting offers from Borussia Dortmund and Parma, the coach has given a firm "no" to all proposals. The reason is clear: he believes this player is essential to the club's future.
We're talking about Diego Aguado, one of the most promising center-backs in the white academy. Although his presence in the first team will be minimal for now, Alonso considers him a strategic piece.
His idea is for Aguado to keep developing at Castilla, where he's already a standout figure and one of the reserve team's captains. But he also wants to keep him close, to observe his progress and prepare him to make the leap when the time comes.
Training and patience, keys to development
Diego Aguado's case shows Xabi Alonso's philosophy: patience and training before haste. The center-back made his debut as a starter last season in the Copa del Rey, a sign of trust in his future. However, that doesn't mean he already holds a permanent spot in Real Madrid's defense.
The plan is for him to keep gaining experience in the Primera RFEF with Castilla, learning day by day under the guidance of Álvaro Arbeloa. Alonso wants Aguado to gradually integrate into the first team. He already did so at the Club World Cup, when he asked for him to be close so he could learn from a champion team.
This way, the club ensures solid growth and prevents its talent from being lost in teams with less prominence. The idea is for Aguado to develop in an environment that respects his timing and that, when he's ready, he can become a full-fledged player at Real Madrid.