Real Madrid Castilla coach Álvaro Arbeloa delivered a direct assessment of young center-back Joan Martínez, stressing that the defender must significantly raise his standards if he wants to reach the first team.

Arbeloa stated: “Joan Martínez is a kid with a lot of talent, but he still has a very long way to go. He needs to train much harder, more focused, with more intensity. If he wants to be a Real Madrid player, he has to know the demands for that position are sky-high. What he’s doing now isn’t enough to be a first-team player.” He added that Martínez has all the necessary physical, technical, and mental qualities, but must train at maximum level every day to make the jump from Castilla to Madrid.

Around the club, the message is viewed as a coach protecting a standout youth player rather than criticizing him. At this age, players are more susceptible to outside praise or harsh judgment, and Arbeloa’s approach is seen as giving Martínez a firm reality check before external pressure distorts expectations.

Martínez is considered one of the brightest defensive prospects in the academy, but Real Madrid’s staff are aligned on the same point: reaching the top level requires more than talent, and Arbeloa wants that urgency embedded now.