Neither Jacobo nor Sergio Arribas: what are the most expensive sales of Madrid's academy players

As usually happens every summer, Real Madrid is experiencing a notable exodus of talent from La Fábrica. The most outstanding pupils from the Merengue youth system, those who fail to establish themselves in the first team with the change of season, head to various elite clubs.

This "mass" departure of so much talent developed at the Valdebebas Sports City has brought multiple economic benefits in almost every season in which it has taken place. In most cases, they achieve figures around €25-30 million (about $27-32 million)... considering that transfers for footballers just out of the academy are usually not very high.

But there are also footballers trained at Real Madrid who have brought great economic benefits. Unable to secure a spot in the first team, or by decision of the White board of directors, several of the best academy graduates have headed to other clubs.

Álvaro Morata

The Spanish striker, recently signed by Como 1907 this very summer, has had a rather turbulent football career. A member of a golden generation at Real Madrid Castilla alongside players like Dani Carvajal or Lucas Vázquez, Morata reached the first team in the 14/15 season. At that time, his sale to Juventus in Turin was processed for €20 million (about $21.5 million).

Brought back just two seasons later, in light of the magnificent performance he had shown during his brief stint as a bianconero striker, he seemed to settle in as a second-string forward. Nothing could be further from the truth. In the summer of 2017 he left for Chelsea in the most expensive sale in La Fábrica's history: €80 million (about $86 million).

Achraf Hakimi

The case of the Moroccan full-back is one of the great regrets of the board of directors led by Florentino Pérez. Not only because of the outstanding performance he now delivers at PSG, under the technical direction of Luis Enrique, but also for his fantastic performance when he was still a White player.

The circumstances that occurred during the 19/20 season, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, forced the team to part with some of its best future assets. Among them, Achraf Hakimi, whose transfer fee, paid by Inter Milan, was set at €40 million (about $43 million).

Marcos Llorente

The transfer of this powerful midfielder took place during the summer of 2019. After the debacle of the previous season, Zinédine Zidane had the task of reorganizing the White squad, betting on one of the two players competing to lead the new midfield. The French coach chose Fede Valverde over Marcos Llorente himself.

Atlético de Madrid showed interest in the White academy graduate, who had competed head-to-head with the now Uruguayan "8", delivering a more than positive performance in his appearances. But the White leadership trusted the judgment of the former player and former Merengue coach, thus obtaining €40 million (about $43 million) from the eternal capital rival.

Martin Odegaard

The case of this Norwegian midfielder is one of the most striking. Martin Odegaard had many minutes of play during his loans to Real Sociedad, showing that he could be one of the next leaders of the Merengue midfield. The absence of great results when Zinédine Zidane called him up to the first team led to his sale: Arsenal paid €35 million (about $37.5 million) for him in 2021.

Sergio Reguilón

Sergio Reguilón was seen as the successor to Marcelo at left-back. Cristiano Ronaldo's departure prompted a generational change in Santiago Bernabéu locker room, a first wave of changes focused especially on the academy that ultimately did not come to fruition.

Loaned to Sevilla during the 19/20 season, Real Madrid finally parted ways with Sergio Reguilón thanks to the unexpected intervention of Tottenham Hotspurs. The Premier League squad acquired the Madrid defender's contract by paying €30 million (about $32 million) in 2020.

Jesé Rodríguez

One of the great talents that La Fábrica brought to the first team. The quality of Jesé, who was a regular in the first team like Álvaro Morata, earned him his nickname "El Bichito"... to the point that many already considered him the spiritual successor to Cristiano Ronaldo back in 2014.

An unfortunate series of injuries prevented his progress in Santiago Bernabéu locker room and Real Madrid decided to put him on the market. PSG came for his purchase in 2016, paying a total of €25 million (about $27 million). Since then, the Canary Islands striker has tried his luck in multiple leagues until returning, this very season, to Las Palmas.