Jeremy de León’s short but memorable chapter with Real Madrid left a unique imprint. The Puerto Rican winger, who famously traveled with the first team during their Champions League run, reflected on his experience in a recent interview with Marca, speaking candidly about his departure, his relationship with the coaching staff, and what it was like to live inside the dressing room of the world’s biggest club.
For De León, the decision to leave Madrid was emotionally complicated.
“Yes, obviously leaving
Real Madrid isn’t easy because it was my childhood dream and for me it’s always been the best club in the world. And yes, it was very difficult. But well, these are decisions a player has to make to continue his career.”
Although Álvaro Arbeloa coached within the academy setup, De León explained that his departure was ultimately a personal decision made with those closest to him.
“No, there were no conversations with Arbeloa. It was more with my family, my agents, and that’s it; we made the decision to leave and look for something different.”
Despite understanding the professional logic behind the move, De León admitted the emotional pull of Real Madrid made it difficult to walk away.
“Yes, obviously (it was disappointing to leave), because my dream was to stay. The longer I’m at Madrid, the better for me. But well, in the end we made the decision to leave.”
His journey to Madrid itself remains surreal when he reflects on it.
“In the end, I went from playing in Puerto Rico to signing with Real Madrid, the best team in the world. It’s having it all, and for me, it was a wonderful experience to be there.”
Breaking Through Wasn’t Easy
De León also spoke about his time under Real Madrid Castilla coach Raúl González. Arriving mid-season made the integration difficult, and injuries further complicated his chances to break into the team.
“With Raúl it was a bit complicated. I arrived mid-season, he already had the team half-assembled, and it was a bit difficult to break into the team. Also, due to injuries, I didn’t get the playing time I wanted”
Still, he emphasized that Raúl maintained communication and that competition at Madrid is simply part of the reality.
“Raul always communicated with me, and that’s it. In the end, you arrive at Real Madrid and there’s a lot of competition. The best players are there, and it’s a bit complicated, but well, I was always available to him and to the club.”
Privately, though, De León admits there were moments when he felt he deserved more opportunities.
“Yes, I think there were times when I felt I deserved more, that he could have given me more, but well, in the end he was the one who decided and he was the one in charge.”
Ancelotti, Solari, and the Champions League Run
If Raúl represented the competitive reality of academy football, Carlo Ancelotti represented the surreal magic of being around the first team.
“I have a lot of affection for Ancelotti. He, along with Solari, were the ones who trusted me and brought me in. And, to be honest, I experienced that moment, but I wasn’t fully aware of what I was going through because I was on the inside. You realize it more when you see it from the outside, and for me, it was wonderful to experience everything with all those people.”
His inclusion in the Champions League squad came unexpectedly.
“The delegate (Chendo) called me one night and told me about my call up to the Champions League casually, as if it were nothing. He called and told me I had to be there with them the next day for the trip. And from then on, I stayed. From then on, I would also travel to Munich and then to the final in London.”
During that famous run, De León became something of a humorous superstition inside the squad.
“I remember being the team’s lucky charm and all that, there were a lot of jokes going on. And a really funny story was that on one of the trips with Real Madrid, I think it was Ceballos who posted a picture of me sleeping. I don’t know if you saw it, and he captioned it something about me being a lucky charm and all that. That was really, really funny.”
Inside the Real Madrid Dressing Room
One of the biggest surprises for De León was how normal the superstars seemed once he got to know them.
“I got along very well with them. In the end, from the outside you see them as if they were superheroes or different people, but when you’re on the inside, you can see more what good people they are and how normal they are.”
His interactions with Ancelotti were limited but meaningful.
“I always had a good relationship with Ancelotti. It’s true that I didn’t talk to him much, but he would sometimes joke around with me and always gave me good advice. He told me to trust myself, to face challenges head-on, which was my strength, and to take risks.”
Even after winning the Champions League, the squad’s reaction surprised him.
“I was really surprised because they were so normal after winning the Champions League. I thought they’d be celebrating more and all, but they were acting like winning the Champions League was just a normal thing.”
The Players Who Impressed Him Most
When asked which teammates stood out the most, De León pointed to the attacking stars of Madrid’s new generation.
“For me, all the Real Madrid players were all fantastic, but I especially liked Rodrygo, because of the quality he shows in small spaces. Vinicius too, Jude… They’re all truly incredible.”
