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.
The likes of Sergio Martinez and Jorge Salinas are both considered big talents, and both are understandably receiving interest from Spain's elite.
Real Madrid have been trying to sign the former for quite some time now, monitoring his progress since January.
Los Blancos are pushing strongly to sign Sergio this summer, but it was revealed that the player has not yet made a decision.
Sergio Martinez is a confirmed Real Madrid target. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)
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.
As quoted by RM4Arab , Aragon confirmed that the teenager was evaluating all the options at his disposal.
"Sergio Martinez is evaluating his options. There is Real Madrid, and there is also the Racing Santander option for him,"Aragon said.
Those comments underline that Madrid have not yet secured the youngster despite their significant interest.
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, however, can offer something Madrid cannot guarantee immediately: regular first-team football.
"If we offer him a starting position, he will not leave,"Aragon claimed.
That could become the decisive factor for Martinez.
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.
At 19, guaranteed senior minutes could be enormously valuable for his development.
What's in store for Martinez's future? (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)
Aragon made no attempt to hide the seriousness of Madrid's interest.
"Real Madrid have gone all out to sign him, and he is now evaluating all the options,"Aragon added.
Racing coming out and publicly admitting the extent of Madrid's interest in the teenager could be their way of making a statement.
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.
For Madrid, his profile is particularly attractive because Mourinho's squad could still use another type of midfielder.
The 19-year-old would arrive as a long-term investment with immense potential who can contribute to the first team.
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.
Racing can offer something more immediate: continuity, familiarity, La Liga football and potentially a starting role.
Martinez needs to decide which pathway he wants for his career, and it remains to be seen whether he chooses Madrid.
