Real Madrid have made an impressive start under Xabi Alonso, who has rotated his squad effectively across the first four matches of the new campaign in La Liga. That approach continued in Saturday’s win over Real Sociedad, where Dani Ceballos earned a surprise place in the starting lineup. However, just a month into the season, Los Blancos have suffered a major setback with key defender Antonio Rudiger sidelined by a thigh injury that will keep him out for nearly three months.
To add more trouble, Eder Militao has only recently returned from his second ACL injury, David Alaba is still dealing with fitness concerns, and Raul Asencio’s form has taken a downturn. This scenario has opened doors for Diego Aguado, as someone from the Castilla squad
could help in first-team setup with Xabi Alonso reportedly monitoring him, as per the report from Sport.es. The 18-year-old centre-back was a vital figure for Castilla last season, and unlike former teammates such as Chema Andres and Jacobo Ramon, chose not to leave.
Real Madrid rejects Borussia Dortmund interest towards 18-year-old defender
The 18-year-old defender, who made his debut in the Copa del Rey earlier this year, is capable of operating both as a left-back and a centre-back. This summer, he attracted strong interest from Borussia Dortmund, with several offers rejected by Real Madrid. While Carlo Ancelotti handed Aguado his first-team breakthrough, Alonso has recently played a key role in his development as the youngster perfectly matches the type of defender the manager seeks for his tactical system.
Borussia Dortmund tabled offers of around €6 million for Aguado, a figure comparable to the fees received for Nico Paz’s move to Como and Takefusa Kubo’s transfer to Real Sociedad. The club views Aguado as a long-term first-team prospect, with a central role in Castilla this season. He recently signed a contract extension until 2029, and as early as last spring, was already earmarked for inclusion in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 squad.
