Report: Real Madrid starlet could make Champions League debut just days after signing for the club

Report: Real Madrid starlet could make Champions League debut just days after signing for the club Sergio Martinez could make one of the most unexpected Real Madrid debuts in recent years when Jose Mourinho’s side face Inter Milan in their Champions League opener on Tuesday. The midfielder only joined Madrid from Racing Santander days ago, but his rise has already taken him from the reserve setup to the senior squad.  According to MARCA , Martinez has trained with Mourinho’s first-team group and is now in contention for the European fixture at the Santiago Bernabeu. Notably, his inclusion on Madrid’s Champions League A-list has accelerated that progression even further. A rapid promotion for Martinez Martinez’s rise has been driven partly by circumstances within Mourinho’s squad. Sergio Martinez has already trained with the first-team. (Photo courtesy: Real Madrid official website) The 25-man UEFA A-list forced Madrid to make a difficult registration decision after Martinez arrived, with the club choosing to leave Ferland Mendy out of the competition squad . There happens to be a sporting reason for that call.  Real Madrid already have Marc Cucurella and Alvaro Carreras available at left-back, while Martinez gives Mourinho another option in midfield at a time when his resources are stretched. Notably, three midfielders, Arda Güler, Camavinga and Bernardo Silva, are suspended for the Champions League opener.  Furthermore, Aurelien Tchouameni is also unavailable for consideration after not featuring in any squad list this season, while Thiago remains a doubt. Sergio Martinez has been included in Real Madrid’s Champions League squad. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images) Martinez’s presence therefore has an immediate purpose rather than simply representing a long-term investment. Why Madrid had to make room UEFA’s registration rules created the problem before Madrid could decide how best to use Martinez. As per the guidelines, clubs can name only 25 players on List A and Madrid had 26 first-team players before Martinez’s arrival, taking the total to 27 once the new signing was added. Thiago Pitarch can be moved to List B, resolving one of those places, but Martinez cannot use the same route, leaving Madrid with another place to clear. Hence, Mendy was ultimately the player left out to accommodate the new arrival.