Atlético Madrid’s academy is enjoying an unforgettable season. The reserve team, Atlético Madrileño, is fighting for direct promotion while, at the same time, the club’s youth graduates have earned more first-team minutes than in any previous campaign under Diego Simeone.
Atlético Madrileño, coached by Fernando Torres, currently sits third in the table and still has a realistic shot at an automatic promotion spot to LaLiga Hypermotion. They don’t control their own destiny, but a win against league leaders Eldense in the penultimate round would put them in contention for the title on the final matchday. They have already secured a playoff place, a major milestone for the youth side.
But the record-breaking nature of this season goes beyond the B team’s success. For the first time under Simeone, ten academy players have made their first-team debuts in La Liga this season. Combined, they have accumulated 1,041 minutes of playing time in the top flight — a historical high mark for any single campaign under the Argentine coach. With three games still to play, that total could increase.
The first debutant was Jano, who came off the bench against Levante. Julio Díaz then claimed the left-back role after his performance at the Carlos Tartiere and has since registered 311 minutes with the senior squad. He was followed by Morcillo and Taufik. The Catalan has settled in with the first team and now sits fourth among academy debutants in minutes with 111. Boñar, Rayane, and Dani Martínez made their debuts against Sevilla, with the right-back scoring his first goal en route to 276 minutes in his maiden top-flight season. Rayane has 134 minutes, making him third in that ranking. Iker Luque, Miguel Cubo, and Puric debuted at Mestalla, and both Luque and Cubo scored against Valencia in an unforgettable afternoon.
In total, ten youth products have now logged more first-team minutes than any previous “graduating class” under Simeone. Even the seasons when Lucas Hernández and Pablo Barrios established themselves in the squad cannot match this output. Lucas played only 3 minutes in his debut year and 836 in his second, while Barrios reached 714 minutes. Now, with the current group already combining for 1,041 minutes, the academy is rewriting the record books.
Three matches remain — against Osasuna, Girona, and Villarreal — presenting more chances for the youngsters to add appearances and minutes. If Atlético Madrileño can also clinch direct promotion, the season will be a dream for Fernando Torres and his squad. First comes the visit to El Sadar, then the pivotal clash with Eldense. The academy keeps pushing forward.
