Real Madrid move to the United States
The club, in collaboration with Abbott, is creating a program to locate and develop talent in the United States.
Talent Wanted. Always. It’s the essential ingredient in any academy, anywhere on the planet—especially at Europe’s top exporter of gemstones. La Fábrica: the most prolific talent factory of the past two decades. But the wheel never stops turning. The hunt for raw diamonds is relentless.
It all begins in Madrid—“no one escapes from here,” they say at Valdebebas—but the search stretches across the globe. From Spain… to the United States. There, a casting call is underway to discover the next generation of football prodigies. Up to 1,250 young players, aged 18 and 19, all with one dream: to turn their American dream into reality. To make the final Dream Team. To reach Madrid.
This is a joint project between Real Madrid and Abbott, the multinational healthcare company based in Chamartín since 2021—where the partnership began. Think football’s Hunger Games: five cities, five stages, five tests. A maximum of 250 hopefuls per stop.
⚪️✨ Florentino Pérez: “Real Madrid's academy is the best in the world”.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) November 25, 2024
“There are currently 191 Real Madrid players in pro leagues. 51 in the First Division, 56 in the Second Division, 84 in international leagues”.
“The Real Madrid academy is the most productive this year”. pic.twitter.com/ALRDJ21LKn
Real Madrid’s talent program in the United States: cities and dates
The journey kicks off in Dallas on June 17, then moves to Philadelphia (June 25), Washington D.C. (July 10), Chicago (July 17), and Los Angeles (July 24). Madrid is looking for diamonds in the land of opportunity.
The five-part camp is designed to identify and nurture talent. “Everyone will take part in intensive football training sessions led by Real Madrid coaches and receive health and nutrition education from Abbott,” explain the program’s organizers. These same coaches will select the final starting eleven: the Abbott Dream Team. Success will be measured by “football skills, values, and determination—on and off the pitch.” The ultimate prize: a golden ticket to Real Madrid City.
To Valdebebas—and the Bernabéu. That’s what’s waiting for the winners. They’ll train at Valdebebas under the guidance of Real Madrid’s elite coaches. But that’s just the beginning. They’ll also receive an invitation to a match at the Santiago Bernabéu and attend a masterclass with sports nutrition experts from the Abbott–Real Madrid Innovation Lab. And then? Back home… or maybe not.
Because if someone shines, they might just knock on Madrid’s door—and be invited to stay. Slam it open. It wouldn’t be the first surprise success story. And it won’t be the last. Just ask the program’s ambassador.
“I benefited from top-notch nutritional programming during my career as a footballer, and I know how crucial a solid foundation of health is to reaching your full potential.
🎥🤍🙏 Emotional send-off from the Academy players!
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) April 16, 2025
🗣️ @LaFabricaCRM pic.twitter.com/FYNSkidv3X
This program has the power to change the lives of young athletes so they can thrive,” says Clint Dempsey, former U.S. international and Premier League standout with Fulham and Tottenham. A legend of the Stars and Stripes. A reflection of the Dream Team, dreaming in white.
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