According to a recent report by AS, Real Madrid are preparing to tie César Gelabert down to a new deal and loan him out to gain more experience so that he can further his development. The same source has also revealed that Los Blancos are planning to monitor his progress closely and are optimistic that Gelabert will flourish in a similar way to how Martin Odegaard has matured as a footballer during his spell at Real Sociedad.
Even though there has been strong interest from a whole host of clubs including Arsenal, Manchester United, Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund, Olympique Lyonnais, Real Zaragoza and Real Valladolid in recent weeks, yet the Madrid giants are working on extending the young Spaniard’s contract which runs out in the summer of 2021 (via AS).
Gelabert’s Rapid Rise In Madrid’s Youth Ranks
The Palencia-born attacker joined the youth ranks of Real Madrid from Hercules Alican in the summer of 2015 and made his debut for the club’s ‘B’ side when he was just 17. He has gone on to feature in 21 matches for Real Madrid Castilla, finding the back of the net once and providing one assist for them so far. The 19-year-old has earned a lot of praise for his eye-catching performances against Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur in the UEFA Youth League, so it is no surprise that so many top European teams are interested in acquiring his services.
Gelabert has made 13 appearances under Raul’s expert stewardship this term and has got one goal versus Sporting Gijon’s ‘B’ side to show for his efforts. The versatile midfielder has already shown a few glimpses of his incredible potential when he has represented Spain at the Under-17 level. He has registered two goals in eight appearances for the Spanish U-17 side after previously lifting the UEFA European Under-17 Championship with his country which goes to show his growing influence in international football.
What Makes The Spanish Whizkid Such A Highly Sought-after Talent?
Gelabert is versatile enough to play in multiple positions in the final third. He has primarily been deployed as an attacking midfielder in the number ten role but is equally effective when being asked to fill in on either flank as a wide player. The Spaniard can also assume the duties of a centre-forward up top if needed.
Gelabert can turn on the afterburners to lose his marker in the attacking third of the field. He tends to use his quickness and low centre of gravity to make some driving runs in behind the opposition defence. The Spanish youngster also boasts excellent ball-control and hardly throws away possession which makes him such a lethal presence in the opposition half. However, his game still has a lot of room for improvement, so Zinedine Zidane needs to be patient with him so that he has enough time to develop into a world-class playmaker in the years to come.
Final Verdict: Is Zidane Making The Right Call By Offering The Youngster A New Contract And Then Loaning Him Out?
It seems like a wise move by Zidane to offer the youngster a new deal so that Madrid can reap the rewards of developing him in the long-run. The early signs have been quite promising from the Spanish prospect. Hence, it makes a lot of sense for Los Blancos to keep him at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium beyond the end of next season and also offer Gelabert a chance to go out on loan to further his development.
