On Sunday, Real Madrid fans witnessed a remarkable moment as two rising stars, Declan Duru and Gildas Giménez, made their debuts in the Endesa League. Coincidentally, both share the same date of birth: January 12, 2007. These two promising talents have been making waves in the club’s academy, alongside another standout, Sidi Gueye.

With just over a minute and a half left in Real Madrid’s dominant win over UCAM Murcia, head coach Chus Mateo decided to reward Duru and Giménez for their hard work in training. The team, dealing with several key absences, relied on academy players to help complete the first-team roster. Mateo, who has praised the youth players for their dedication, gave Duru his opportunity first, followed shortly by Giménez, with 53 seconds left on the clock.

Declan Duru, a 2.02-meter tall small forward, has been part of Real Madrid since 2020 after playing for Germany’s youth national teams. Known for his physicality and versatility, Duru can also play as a power forward. He’s been impressive in the junior ranks, particularly in the Adidas Next Generation tournament, where he played a key role in Real Madrid's triumph under coach Javi Juárez.

Gildas Giménez, originally from Burkina Faso but now a Spanish national, is a 1.97-meter shooting guard with the ability to also play as a point guard or small forward. Having joined Real Madrid in 2018, Giménez has become one of Spain’s most promising young talents. He’s known for his scoring ability, defense, and basketball IQ. His success with Spain's Under-16 team, where he won the European Championship in 2023, and his leadership in the Under-17 World Cup team have cemented his place as a future star.

In addition to Duru and Giménez, other youth players are making their mark. Sidi Gueye, who played ten minutes due to the absences of Usman Garuba and Serge Ibaka, and Hugo González, now a regular in the first team’s rotation, demonstrate the depth of Real Madrid's youth system. Rival coach Sito Alonso highlighted the high level of Real Madrid’s young players, emphasizing that they surpass the typical quality of other teams' prospects.

Real Madrid’s youth academy continues to provide exceptional talent, and the debuts of Duru and Giménez mark the beginning of what could be stellar careers for both players.

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