A summer of vast change, and newfound optimism – Real Madrid Castilla’s preparations for the 2025/26 campaign have been intriguing to say the least. With a new manager at the helm, a reshaped squad and a continental competition on the horizon, it’s time to assess how things stand before the season begins.
Pre-Season Results:
Mixed Outcomes, Clear Ideas
- Marbella 0-4 Castilla (Castrello, Zúñiga & Fettal x2)
- Racing Ferrol 1-2 Castilla (Yáñez, Fettal)
- Castilla 1-3 Andorra (Fettal)
- Castilla 1-1 Valencia Mestalla (OG)
- Castilla 2-1 Ibiza (Fettal & Zúñiga)
- Castilla 1-1 Alcorcón (Ángel)
Six matches. Three wins. Two draws. One defeat. Despite the results, this was one of Castilla’s most productive pre-seasons in recent memory. Álvaro Arbeloa has wasted
no time imprinting a bold, modern tactical identity on the side, one that appears strikingly similar to the first team under his good friend Xabi Alonso. They are possession-dominant (with purpose), proactive in possession and press relentlessly out of out. Castilla finally feel like they’re singing from the same hymn sheet as the senior side, and – whisper it quietly, but they might just understand the assignment better. Even with heavy rotation and several makeshift line-ups, the team looked structured, composed and confident. It’s a welcome change. The biggest criticism I can muster for Arbeloa is one that follows him up from the academy: his Plan B leaves a lot to be desired. As long as Plan A works, there won’t be any problems, but if it doesn’t, things could become complicated.
Transfer Window:
Incomings
- Rachad Fettal (ST, Almería) – €900,000
- Thiago Pitarch (CM) – Academy
- Jesús Fortea (RB) – Academy
- Joan Martínez (CB) – Academy
- Diego Aguado (CB) – Academy
- Víctor Valdepeñas (CB) – Academy
- Cristian David (DM) – Academy
- Jorge Cestero (CM) – Academy
- Daniel Yáñez (Winger) – Academy
- Sergio Mestre (GK) – C team
- Gullie Súnico (GK) – C team
- Manu Serrano (LB) – C team
- Bruno Iglesias (CAM) – C team
Outgoings
- Mario de Luis (GK – Atlético Madrid B)
- Diego Piñeiro (GK – Real Murcia)
- Lorenzo Aguado (RB – Albacete)
- Raúl Asencio (CB – Real Madrid)
- Kike Ribes (CB – Celta Vigo B)
- Jacobo Ramón (CB – Como)
- David Cuenca (CB – CF Talavera)
- Edgar Pujol (CB – Racing Ferrol)
- David Ruiz (LB – Eldense)
- Youssef Enríquez (LB – Alavés)
- Chema Andrés (DM – Stuttgart)
- Antonio David (CM – Albacete)
- Andrés Campos (LW – Leganés)
- Gonzalo García (RW – Real Madrid)
- Jeremy de León (RW – Hércules)
- Víctor Muñoz (LW – Osasuna)
- Borja Alonso (LW – Real Betis B)
Let’s start with the positives. This has been the most well organised exodus in recent Castilla memory. Nearly all of the players found perfect destinations, most sales were completed early, and the club generated well over €20 million in transfer revenue. Most left for situations that suit their development perfectly. Jacobo to Como in Serie A (following Nico Paz), Gonzalo and Víctor to La Liga, Pujol to a third-tier club to reflect his disappointing Castilla tenure. Credit where it’s due. However. there are two moves that sting. Youssef Enríquez to Alavés feels premature (unless he gets a decent amount of playing time). He had another year in him, and Castilla now lack a proper left-back. Jeremy de León leaving may put an end to the most ridiculous story I have seen at Castilla, but reality is Castilla are now left with one winger, and despite the whirwind of chaos surrounding Jeremy, he was talented and was never given a proper chance by any coach at the club. I was surprised that Arbeloa completely exiled him, but hopefully he can get his career back ion track at Hércules.
The incoming players have been more promising, but the club should not be finished with the market yet. Arbeloa inherited arguably the strongest batch of academy players in years, and it’s been further boosted by the unexpected rise of Thiago Pitarch, the revelation of pre-season for both Castilla and the first team. Dominant in his Castilla debut, he was then called up to the first team, even scoring in a 4-1 win over Leganés, and has already been listed in Alonso’s first two La Liga squads. He has now signed a new contract and has been promoted to Castilla full-time – becoming the first player to break the mould of young academy talents impressing for Castilla in pre-season before having to disappear back into the academy for a year before their ‘actual’ time comes around.
The proposed transfer for the Ouazane brothers did indeed break down in the end, with both signing new contract with Ajax. Still, it is unlikely either of them would have featured for Castilla despite playing in positions that would aid the team.
Finally, Rachad Fettal. Signed for a rare fee of €900k, he looked like a gamble – but he ends pre-season as Castilla’s top scorer and his stock has never been higher. His La Liga and Segunda experience has shone through, and while his competitive goal record is poor, he looks transformed under Arbeloa. It has to be said that many players have turned into Pelé during pre-season only to stagnate when the campaign comes around, but I still predict this man to be the teams top goalscorer come in the end of the year.
Still, Castilla’s squad feels incomplete. There’s no replacement for the goals of Gonzalo García and Víctor Muñoz (40-odd goals lost), and no left-back, unless the centre-backs are shifted. There is one winger left in the squad, which would make sense if width was not utilised under Arbeloa – but he has opted for makeshift wingers in nearly every pre-season fixture. There is also a lack of physicality in the middle after the departure of Chema Andrés. Manuel Angel and Thiago Pitarch will be technically supreme, and can dominate games in possession – but may be bullied out of certain games. It is easy to predict that the club won’t act, but if they have any ambition – they should. And fast.
2025/26 Prediction:
6th Place (Just Outside the Play-Offs)
Castilla won’t go down. They won’t even flirt with any danger. The squad, even as it stands, has become too talented and well organised for that. But will they go up? Probably not. The squad planning looked initially promising, but this is currently a team with little experience, no specialist left-back, no physically dominant midfielder, and one winger despite a tactical reliance on width. If Rachad cools off at any period, there’s a goalscoring void. Even if he and Loren continue firing in goals, it will be very difficult to reach the numbers of the two stellar attackers from last term. The defence does look solid, and the striker options are better than last season. Thiago Pitarch is also a real bonus, seemingly appearing out of nowhere – but the roster still feels one or two signings short of the play-offs. Especially as there is now an additional competition, against fresh opponents, with international travel to bear in mind. They just do not have enough.
It will be a strong campaign. I predict that Rachad Fettal will hit at least double figures and finish as top goal scorer, and I think given enough opportunity, Loren Zúñiga will also reach ten goals. Expect Pitarch to become a key player if he can ride the wave of momentum he is currently experiencing. But expect Castilla to fall just short, finishing 6th in Group 1 of the Primera Federación. Still, this is a thin, raw group that punched so far above its weight last season. Under Arbeloa, they may just do it again. The season kick off at home against Lugo on Friday the 29th of August 2025. You can watch from 7.15pm CET of FEF TV.
Want more?
This season, Castilla Corner becomes Inside Castilla! A new and exciting brand, with the same team and passion. Expect to see the usual podcasts, but mixed with new content including live watchalongs (the first one was a great success), streams, player insights and behind-the-scenes context you won’t get anywhere else.
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