YOUTH
Marc Cucurella, Victor Munoz, Takefusa Kubo join Real Madrid
Marc Cucurella, Victor Munoz and Takefusa Kubo, all products of Barcelona’s La Masia academy, have each secured contracts with Real Madrid, with Cucurella’s move costing the Spanish giants an initial €55 million plus €5 million in add‑ons. Munoz’s transfer to Liverpool later generated a €20 million windfall for Madrid, while Kubo never made a senior appearance for the club.
Cucurella entered La Masia in 2012 and progressed through the youth ranks as a promising left‑back. He managed only a single senior appearance for Barcelona before being loaned to Eibar and then Getafe, where his attacking flair attracted attention. A permanent move to Getafe preceded successful seasons with Brighton & Hove Albion and Chelsea, and his transfer to Real Madrid was completed despite interest from Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.
Victor Munoz joined Barcelona’s academy at age eleven, left for Damm in 2017, and was recruited by Real Madrid four years later. He debuted for Real Madrid’s first team in May 2025, substituting for Vinícius Júnior during a Clasico match against Barcelona. After a stint at Osasuna while Madrid kept 50 % of his economic rights, Liverpool triggered his €40 million release clause, delivering €20 million to Real Madrid.
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Takefusa Kubo arrived at La Masia in 2011 and spent four years in the academy before FIFA sanctions forced his exit. Real Madrid signed the Japanese playmaker in 2019 on a five‑year deal, yet he never featured in a competitive senior match for the club. Loan spells across Spain eventually led him to Real Sociedad, where he emerged as a leading La Liga attacker. Direct transfers between Barcelona and Real Madrid remain extremely rare, highlighting the rivalry’s influence on player pathways. Nevertheless, the three cases show how the clubs’ scouting networks intersect despite the competition. Some of the players used the move to revive their careers, while others became valuable financial assets for Los Blancos without regular first‑team roles.