An imposing physique, sprinter-like speed, good ball skills and excellent defensive reading. That’s Victor Valdepenas in a nutshell, one of the latest talents to emerge from Real Madrid’s La Fabrica academy.

Born in Madrid on October 20, 2006, Victor began his footballing journey on the streets of the Spanish capital. He started out at Rayo Vallecano before moving to Real Madrid to complete his development, with a brief stint at Leganes sandwiched in the middle.

A modern and versatile defender, Valdepenas quickly made his mark with Real Madrid Castilla, the Merengues' B team. Last season he became a key figure for the side, making 30 appearances and scoring two goals. These performances earned him a call-up to the first team, where he made his first team debut last December in a 2–1 away victory over Deportivo Alaves. It was a debut to remember - during his 78 minutes on the pitch, the youngster recorded 5 tackles, won 12 duels and completed 32 out of 34 passes.

The statistics from his debut only tell part of the story regarding Valdepenas's versatility. Despite standing over six foot tall Victor possesses a great deal of pace. Last season he reached top speeds of 21 mph, a remarkable stat considering that the peak speed recorded in Serie A last season was just under 20 mph (by Lazio’s Romano Floriani). His explosive bursts of pace, combined with effective dribbling all over the pitch, make him a constant threat when he joins the attack. He is also blessed with a cultured left foot, with a fantastic short and long distant passing range. What’s more, his marking when out of possession is top-notch.