Zinedine Zidane Includes Akinlabi In Real Madrid Squad To Face Getafe

Published: September 15, 2020

Real Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane has included Nigeria-eligible midfielder Marvin Akinlabi in his squad list for Tuesday's behind-closed-doors pre-season friendly against Getafe at the Alfredo di Stéfano Stadium.

According to reports in Spain including Marca, Akinlabi has been named in a 26-man group and is among seven Castilla players called up.

The 20-year-old is battling Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, Casemiro, Fede Valverde, Antonio Blanco, Sergio Arribas and Carlos Dotor for one of the starting spots in midfield.

Having trained with the first team all through the pre-season, Akinlabi was in the frame to make his unofficial debut for the Spanish champions against Rayo Vallecano last Wednesday but the friendly was called off at the last minute.

Zidane has identified the Spanish-Nigerian as one of the top prospects in Real Madrid's youth team after he helped the club win their first UEFA Youth League title last month, scoring one goal and setting up three others in their last three games in Switzerland.

Akinlabi has played nonstop at Real Madrid since 2016 after joining from Es Jonquet Penya Arrabal .

Igho Kingsley

Photo Credit : realmadrid.com

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