Álvaro Leiva: Every Child Dreams of This Opportunity, and This Is What the Coach Asked of Me

The young midfielder Álvaro Leiva participated in his first official match with Real Madrid during the 1-0 victory over Sevilla, in the match held at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium as part of the Spanish League competition.

Leiva entered the game in the 87th minute, replacing Jude Bellingham, marking his debut with the first team.

The player said: "Every child dreams of this opportunity to make their debut with the best club in the world, and the club of my life. I am extremely happy with this opportunity granted to me by the coach. It is a moment full of tension, and one still can't believe it. It's true that until you set foot on the pitch and feel everything, you won't believe what you're experiencing."

He added: "The coach asked me to be myself: a player capable of breaking through defenses, good at dribbling, and possessing great potential. He also asked me to put in a lot of effort in defense."

He continued about the academy players: "You can notice the hard work being done in the academy. Any player is capable of reaching the first division level. Clearly, with our current level, we are qualified to play in the first division."

He concluded: "The jersey I wore today I will give to my mother to frame at home, to remain an eternal memory."

Álvaro Leiva joined the Real Madrid academy in 2022, and he has become the eighth player from the Real Madrid academy to make his debut this season.