Sports

Racing Santander chief confirms Real Madrid interest in star midfielder – “He will not leave”

August 25, 2026

Source: Yahoo Sports · Read on source site

class="wp-block-paragraph">Racing Santander may have only just got promoted to La Liga, but they have a talented squad with some of Spain’s best youngsters at their disposal.

class="wp-block-paragraph">The likes of Sergio Martinez and Jorge Salinas are both considered big talents, and both are understandably receiving interest from Spain’s elite.

class="wp-block-paragraph">Real Madrid have been trying to sign the former for quite some time now, monitoring his progress since January.

class="wp-block-paragraph">Los Blancos are pushing strongly to sign Sergio this summer, but it was revealed that the player has not yet made a decision.

Martinez still considering his futureSergio Martinez is a confirmed Real Madrid target. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

class="wp-block-paragraph">Now, Racing sporting director Chema Aragon has confirmed Madrid’s determination to land the 19-year-old but did not rule out the player staying at Racing as an option.

class="wp-block-paragraph">As quoted by RM4Arab, Aragon confirmed that the teenager was evaluating all the options at his disposal.

class="wp-block-paragraph">“Sergio Martinez is evaluating his options. There is Real Madrid, and there is also the Racing Santander option for him,” Aragon said.

class="wp-block-paragraph">Those comments underline that Madrid have not yet secured the youngster despite their significant interest.

class="wp-block-paragraph">Should he choose Madrid, the plan would be for the midfielder to initially join Castilla while remaining close enough to the senior set-up to potentially train under Jose Mourinho.

Racing believe starting role could convince him

class="wp-block-paragraph">Racing, however, can offer something Madrid cannot guarantee immediately: regular first-team football.

class="wp-block-paragraph">“If we offer him a starting position, he will not leave,” Aragon claimed.

class="wp-block-paragraph">That could become the decisive factor for Martinez.

class="wp-block-paragraph">Dropping from La Liga football with Racing into the lower divisions with Castilla would be a significant sporting decision, even with the possibility of eventually breaking into Madrid’s first team.

class="wp-block-paragraph">At 19, guaranteed senior minutes could be enormously valuable for his development.

Real Madrid have gone all outWhat’s in store for Martinez’s future? (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

class="wp-block-paragraph">Aragon made no attempt to hide the seriousness of Madrid’s interest.

class="wp-block-paragraph">“Real Madrid have gone all out to sign him, and he is now evaluating all the options,” Aragon added.

class="wp-block-paragraph">Racing coming out and publicly admitting the extent of Madrid’s interest in the teenager could be their way of making a statement.

class="wp-block-paragraph">It is highly unlikely that their sporting director would come out and be so open about transfer negotiations unless they are confident of him staying at the club this summer.

class="wp-block-paragraph">For Madrid, his profile is particularly attractive because Mourinho’s squad could still use another type of midfielder.

class="wp-block-paragraph">The 19-year-old would arrive as a long-term investment with immense potential who can contribute to the first team.

class="wp-block-paragraph">The decision now firmly belongs to the player. Madrid can offer prestige, the chance of playing for the biggest team in the world and a chance to work with superstars.

class="wp-block-paragraph">Racing can offer something more immediate: continuity, familiarity, La Liga football and potentially a starting role.

class="wp-block-paragraph">Martinez needs to decide which pathway he wants for his career, and it remains to be seen whether he chooses Madrid.