Power Rankings: Real Madrid’s youngsters after their performance against Fiorentina

Real Madrid’s youngsters completed a good and solid all-around performance against Fiorentina in the Santiago Bernabeu Trophy. It’s clear that some of them and more ready than others who might need some more experience at elite level to actually contribute and show their true potential.

Here’s Managing Madrid’s Power Ranking for Real’s youngsters based on their performance against Fiorentina. Marco Asensio was not included on this ranking as he can already be considered a key member of the squad and not only an intriguing prospect.

1. Dani Ceballos: The midfielder played a sensational first half and proved that he doesn’t need anything in particular to contribute regularly. Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Isco and Mateo Kovacic are obviously ahead of him in the depth chart but that doesn’t men he isn’t ready to play. Ceballos is the kind of midfielder who can easily average 100 completed passes per game and also has the playmaking skills to create chances for his teammates. All in all, Real Madrid got a bargain when they signed him for less than €20 million.
2. Borja Mayoral: Maybe Real Madrid can actually begin the season without signing any other striker. Mayoral scored the team’s opening goal and also showed he was comfortable moving all around the offensive line ala Karim Benzema. It’s clear that losing the French attacker would still hurt Madrid’s chances, but Mayoral’s disappointing season with Wolfsburg might not be an indicator of his true quality.
3. Marcos Llorente: Although he lacked the self-confidence he had last season with Alavés, Llorente still has the discipline and the quality to be a good player for this club. Once he gets the confidence he needs, he can be better than Casemiro, but it will be interesting to see if he has that fire inside him as players like Asier Illarramendi just lacked the character to succeed at Madrid.
4. Theo Hernandez: I expected more from Theo. It’s clear that he just can’t be stopped once he starts running, he has that kind of power and speed. One can only wonder if he might be the kind of player who ends up playing in the offensive line like Gareth Bale.
5. Achraf Hakimi: Achraf was playing in the Spanish Segunda División B —the third division actually— last season and it’s clear that he has a long way to go. He didn’t make any costly mistakes but he’s still far from being a solid backup to Dani Carvajal, meaning that if the Spanish right-back gets injured, Nacho might be his replacement at least this season.