Real Madrid earned a breath of relief after the win over Alavés, but the calendar gives Xabi Alonso no time to slow down. Los Blancos now shift focus to the Copa del Rey, where they face CF Talavera in their opening cup assignment — a fixture that often demands rotation, intensity, and a professional job done.
With injuries piling up and key starters needing minutes managed, Alonso is expected to freshen up his XI and open the door for fringe players and academy talent. And this time, one name is rising above the rest.
David Jiménez next in line for a breakthrough
After Víctor Valdepeñas was handed his first taste of official first-team action, Real Madrid’s next Castilla player appears ready to step into the spotlight. Reports indicate that David Jiménez, the 21-year-old right-back, is now strongly tipped to make his official debut — and not just as a substitute.
The expectation is clear: Jiménez is in line to start in the Copa del Rey tie against Talavera, giving him a golden chance to prove he can be trusted at senior level when the team needs solutions.
Why Alonso is ready to rotate at right-back
The right side of Madrid’s defence has been hit hard. Dani Carvajal is unavailable, and Trent Alexander-Arnold is also out, leaving Alonso short of natural options in the position.
At the same time, Federico Valverde has been carrying discomfort, and the club will not want to push him deeper into risk by asking him to cover endlessly at right-back again, especially in a cup match where rotation is not just useful — it’s necessary.
That combination makes the choice almost logical: if the manager wants a natural right-back with energy and attacking drive, Jiménez is the academy option best positioned to benefit.
A La Fábrica player built for opportunity
Jiménez is not new to this environment. He has already been included in senior matchday squads for important games this season, but the debut moment never arrived. Now, with the Copa del Rey presenting a slightly different context — and Madrid desperate for options — the door is open again, wider than before.
The defender has been part of the club setup for more than a decade, joining the academy system in 2013 and growing through the ranks with a steady reputation for maturity, reliability, and confidence on the ball.
Key figure for Arbeloa’s Castilla
Under Álvaro Arbeloa, Jiménez has become an important piece of Castilla’s structure. He has been heavily involved across competitions this season and has contributed with output from wide areas, offering attacking intent, smart movement in the final third, and the kind of delivery that fits Madrid’s style when they want to stretch opponents.
His strengths are clear: forward energy, set-piece quality, and an ability to support attacks without losing discipline — exactly what a rotated Madrid side needs in a cup tie where control matters.
A huge moment — and a clear message
If the reports prove accurate and David Jiménez starts against Talavera, it will be more than a debut. It will be a message that Alonso is prepared to trust La Fábrica when the situation demands it — and a reminder that Real Madrid’s next solution can come from within.
Now it’s on Jiménez to take the chance, perform like he belongs, and turn an emergency opening into a real first-team pathway.