Who is Yusi, teenaged left-back in Real Madrid Intercontinental Cup final squad?

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has brought highly-rated young defender Yousseff Enríquez Lekhedim to Qatar.

Given Real Madrid's extensive injury list, Carlo Ancelotti has dipped into the club's talent pool to complete his squad for this week's Intercontinental Cup final. The head coach is also keen to take charge of the best prospects in 'La Fábrica' – and at left-back, Ancelotti has called up a player who is very highly regarded within the Spanish club.

Yousseff Enríquez Lekhedim, better known as Yusi, has traveled to Qatar in the absence of injured first-team regular Ferland Mendy. Should anything happen to Fran García, Madrid's expected starter at left back against Pachuca, Yusi is next in line.

Who is Yusi?

Born in Madrid in October 2005, Yusi joined Madrid's youth academy in 2017. Since then he has risen rapidly through the ranks at Valdebebas. Last summer he was promoted straight from the under-19s to Castilla, the club's 'B' team – a move that saw him skip Real Madrid C, Los Blancos' third team. Castilla's head coach, club legend Raúl González Blanco, was keen to add Yusi to his ranks ahead of a planned promotion to Spain's third tier. Although Castilla have not achieved these ambitions so far this season, Yusi has established himself as a regular in the team. He started fifteen of the seventeen league games and scored one goal.

This is not the first time that Yusi has been included in the first team's matchday squad. The 19-year-old was also part of Madrid's traveling party for the Champions League win at Atalanta seven days ago, before also being called up for this weekend's LaLiga draw with Rayo Vallecano. Although he is yet to make his debut for Ancelotti's team, Madrid's decision to enter him for the Intercontinental Cup means he will earn his first senior medal if the Spaniards win in Qatar, regardless of whether he takes the field or not.

Yusi approaches the senior Moroccan arch

Yusi's development has not gone unnoticed in Morocco, his mother's native country. He represented Spain until the under-17 age group, after which he moved to the Moroccan national setup. He made five appearances for the Moroccans under-20s and earned his first senior call-up in March, five months before his 19th birthday.

Yusi's performances for Castilla have attracted interest from clubs both in Spain and abroad. Madrid, for example, have received approaches from Germany, but these overtures were rejected by club and player, who agreed a new deal in December 2023 that links him to the Spanish and European champions until 2028. Several LaLiga clubs are keeping a close eye on his progress. ; one is Getafe, who were linked with a move for the teenager in the summer.

Within Real Madrid, he is seen as a player who fits the club's traditions: he is an adventurous, attacking left-back with the ability to exert significant influence in the future. That's the kind of impact Madrid doesn't get from Mendy or García. A player who has benefited from the physical development he has undergone in recent times, Yusi possesses a sweet left foot capable of delivering dangerous crosses, and is also credited with excellent decision-making in the final third. Although Yusi has yet to provide any assists for Casrtilla this season, that is at least partly due to the lack of a goal-scoring striker.

Real Madrid vs Pachuca: when, where?

Real Madrid will take on Mexican side Pachuca at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar on Wednesday, December 18, 2024. The Intercontinental Cup Final kicks off at 12pm ET/9am PT.

While Madrid automatically qualified for the final as Champions League winners, CONCACAF Champions Cup holders Pachuca had to get through two rounds to reach the trophy decider. Los Tuzos defeated Brazilians Botafogo 3-0 in the Derby of the Americas before beating Egyptians Al Ahly on penalties in the Challenger Cup.

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