Real Madrid have continued their youth recruitment drive with the loan signing of teenage full-back Mathias Rodriguez from Penarol.
The 18-year-old, who has yet to make his professional debut but is an Under-18 international for Uruguay, will join up with Los Blancos' Juvenil A squad and follows in the footsteps of former Penarol teammate Federico Valverde.
“I'm happy and still can't believe it,” he told Uruguayan radio station Montevideo 1010 AM.
“I was lying on my bed when I received a call from my agent, who informed me there was a possibility of going to Real Madrid on loan.
“I immediately told him to proceed with it. Playing for Real Madrid will allow me to help my family economically and continue my growth as a footballer.
“The only thing confirmed is that I'm going to play in the UEFA Youth League.
“When I was told I was going to Real Madrid, my legs started shaking. My mother didn't believe me at first.”
Other young talents, such as Marco Asensio, Augusto Batalla, Jesus Vallejo and Martin Odegaard [pictured], have also arrived at the Santiago Bernabeu in recent times.
