Sergio Martínez, signed from Racing days ago, makes Real Madrid squad for Betis clash

Signed just days ago and already on the list. Sergio Martínez, the 19-year-old defender who arrived from Racing de Santander last weekend, has made Real Madrid's squad for Friday's clash against Betis at La Cartuja. The move is no coincidence, even though the club insists the youngster is joining, at least for now, to bolster Castilla.

The thing is, several sources have told ESPN that Sergio will also be brought into the first-team fold, something Mourinho himself didn't rule out when asked about him at the pre-match press conference.

Before the club signed him, and knowing he wouldn't be directly a first-team player, we analyzed him and gave our opinion on whether he could one day get here. He's a kid with potential, who has a bit of experience in the Segunda División and in this start to the league season with Racing. He has potential, he has to work, and only he can decide thatJosé Mourinho

Nothing changes, meanwhile, on the injury front. Mourinho is working with the same list of seven absentees he has carried for several matches now: Aurelien Tchouaméni, Endrick, Éder Militao, Ferland Mendy, Rodrygo Goes, Raúl Asencio and Thiago Pitarch. Not a single return, not one extra piece of good news on that front.

Tchouaméni on the radar for the next round of suspensions

Tchouaméni's situation is starting to become a concern looking at the immediate schedule. Mourinho was blunt when discussing timelines, especially with next Tuesday's Champions League match against Inter in mind, where Real Madrid's midfield could be left dangerously thin due to the suspensions of Güler, Bernardo Silva and Camavinga.

I don't know if he'll even be ready for the Inter game, because there, next Tuesday, in central midfield, there would be a real problem with the suspensions of Güler, Bernardo Silva and Camavinga. Valverde will basically be the only first-team player left. We'll talk about that tomorrow after the match, but until the Betis game, let me stay, let me stay optimistic, happy, because you know we're going to have a big problem to sort out. Right now we're focused on Betis and putting that story asideJosé Mourinho

Given that outlook, it's no surprise the academy is stepping back into the spotlight. Along with Sergio Martínez, academy products Javi Navarro, Mario Rivas and Jorge Cestero are traveling to Seville, while Alexis Ciria, who had been a regular in the first three squads of the season, drops off the list just as the new signing steps in.

La Fábrica, always within reach

Mourinho took the opportunity to explain why he keeps leaning so heavily on the kids from La Fábrica, beyond the pressing needs of the schedule.

Many academy players train with me regularly, every day, others come around occasionally, and for those who don't we pay them plenty of attention. They've done great work in recent years, and the result of that work is that Thiago has definitely moved up to the first team, along with the many millions Real Madrid has raised through transfers of these young players. In the end they're not really transfers, because Real Madrid brings the players back whenever it wants and believes they should be in the first-team squad. As the season develops, with suspensions and injuries, opportunities are obviously going to come their way, and I get to know them better all the time. We're in daily contact with Manu and with La Fábrica, and they can feel excited that their moment with the first team is going to comeJosé Mourinho

In the end, between long-term injuries and suspensions already looming on the European horizon, the reserve team is once again proving to be a lifeline. Javi Navarro, Mario Rivas, Jorge Cestero and Sergio Domínguez will join Sergio Martínez as the academy's representatives this Friday at La Cartuja.