Once a Madridista, always a Madridista. It is a sentiment we see time and time again with graduates from La Fabrica, and the latest Premier League sensation to express his undying love for the Royal White shirt is none other than Alex Jimenez.
The 20-year-old right-back, who is currently enjoying a breakout season in the Premier League with AFC Bournemouth, has refused to close the door on a potential return to the Santiago Bernabéu.
The Explosion of Alex Jimenez
For those tracking our loan army and academy exports, Jimenez’s trajectory has been sharp. After spending over a decade in Madrid’s youth system, he moved to AC Milan in 2023. After impressing in Italy, he made the jump to the Premier League with Bournemouth last summer.
Just last week, the Cherries activated the mandatory buy clause in his loan deal, securing him permanently. While Madrid received a healthy financial injection from the 50% sell-on clause retained from the Milan deal, fans are wondering if we might see him on the pitch rather than just on the balance sheet in the future.
In an exclusive interview with Mundo Deportivo, Alex Jimenez didn’t shy away from his roots.
“Right now I’m focused on Bournemouth, on this season, but going back would be a dream for me because I grew up there and it’s the place where I learned what I am now,” Jimenez admitted.
While he insisted he is “very happy” and under contract at the Vitality Stadium, the desire to one day emulate the likes of Dani Carvajal and Fran Garcia by returning home is clearly there.
The Nico Paz Connection
Jimenez isn’t the only La Fabrica product tearing it up in a top-five league. The defender took time to praise Nico Paz, who has been a revelation for Como in Serie A.
When asked if the Argentine midfielder is ready for a return to the Spanish capital, Jimenez was emphatic:
“Yes, he’s ready. He was very good last season and this season he’s taken another step forward. I’ve always liked him and I’d be very happy for him if he ends up returning to Madrid.”
Learning from the Best
Alex Jimenez’s development was overseen by club legend and current youth coach Alvaro Arbeloa. The defender credited Arbeloa for his tactical growth, stating, “He knows how to manage the team well and has clear ideas about what he wants to do.”
Perhaps most interesting for Madrid fans is who Jimenez models his game after. He cited current Real Madrid captain Dani Carvajal, as well as the club’s galactico summer signing, Trent Alexander-Arnold.
“I’ve always looked up to Carvajal because I spent many years at Real Madrid. Also Alexander-Arnold, Davies, and Theo Hernández,” he noted.
With the right-back position at the Bernabéu currently boasting world-class talent, a return for Alex Jimenez might not be imminent. However, knowing that a talent of his caliber is thriving in the Premier League and still dreaming of the white shirt is exactly what Madridismo is all about.