'Real Madrid have the best academy in the world' - Raul adamant LaLiga giants produce top prospects

Real Madrid legend Raul Gonzalez feels the club's famed La Fabrica youth academy is arguably the best in the world and that it produces some of the finest talents around in the game.

Raul is Madrid's third-highest goal scorer of all-time with 323 goals, while he leads the list for most appearances for the club with 741 after coming through the club's youth setup, joining La Fabrica from arch-rivals Atletico Madrid at the tender age of 15.

Throughout its history, Real Madrid have produced some of the greatest academy graduates. First, it was the Ye-Ye Era during the 1960s, where several academy players formed part of an all-Spanish XI that dominated the league. Then, it was the 'Quinta del Buitre' in 1980s, a moniker given to five homegrown players in Emilio Butragueno, Manolo Sanchis, Michel, Martin Vazquez, and Miguel Pardeza, all of whom helped Madrid dominate Spanish football.

In more recent times, the likes of Iker Casillas, Chendo, and Guti have donned the Real Madrid shirt and engraved themselves in the club's history. Raul, who currently coaches Real Madrid Castilla, is also a product of La Fabrica.

However, the club doesn't promote many players to the first team nowadays. Lucas Vazquez and Dani Carvajal are the only academy graduates in the current roster, but even they have been with the first team since 2013 and 2015, respectively.

“Madrid’s youth academy is ready, it’s just that opportunities are needed due to certain circumstances," Raul told reporters following Castilla's most recent game (h/t AS). "At other clubs they have come due to other circumstances and at Madrid it has been proven that we have the best youth academy in the world. If they can’t achieve their goal in the first team, I’m sure they will do so at a professional level in different parts of the world.”

Raul also praised centre-back Asencio, who made his Real Madrid debut during the team's 4-0 win over Osasuna just before the international break.

"It is a great joy. The other day he had his chance and he did very well. In the coming days he will be one more member of the first team and I am very happy because he is a player who has fought hard to be where he is. Now he has to continue, part of the work has already been done and now he has to stay.”

There have been reports stating that the 47-year-old manager would be leaving his role with Real Madrid Castilla next summer. Although he has received numerous offers from different clubs over the years, Raul has stayed at the club. Los Blancos want him to continue, although in a more administrative role partnering with Santiago Solari and Manu Fernandez. For now, he'll be preparing for Castilla's next game, which will take place on Sunday, November 24, away at Fuenlabrada.