What We're Reading
Madrid Youth Coach Quits, Slams Club Policy
- Reuters, Friday, December 5, 2008 1:15 PM
The former Spanish international told Spanish radio that club President Ramon Calderon, who this week said Barcelona had been more successful at developing youth players, "knows absolutely nothing about what goes on" at the club's youth level. "The president can criticize me but he doesn't know my work or what we do."
He said Madrid "doesn't give the youth team players the same opportunities they do to other young players who are bought in from outside." His comments came on the day that Real presented its new $25 million signing from Ajax, Dutch striker Klaas Jan Huntelaar, 25.
Calderon responded to the criticism on the club's official web site. "It is sad and I find his attitude frustrating because everyone says the Real Madrid youth system does not work," Calderon said. "That said, seven of our first team players came from the youth ranks."
