For the moment, he remains a Real Madrid player. But with Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho counted among his fans, Alvaro Medran's future in Spain is nearing crunch time.
Carlo Ancelotti, the Real Madrid coach, is under no illusions, he knows all about the talent of Medran. But the dilemma is: where does he fit in Real's Galacticos midfield?
Barely six months after making his pro debut with the Castilla last season, Ancelotti has handed Medran a senior debut this term - both in the Liga and Champions League.
"Medrán is a very complete player, a great midfielder who has quality and durability," says Ancelotti. "I think he is more like Luka Modric than Toni Kroos, so I do not know if I could play him as a defensive midfielder."
The Italian regards the 20 year-old very highly, but as he hinted earlier this season, Medran is best suited to a specific attacking role - which is almost always filled by those carrying the heaviest price-tags. If not Modric, then it's one of their 80 million men James Rodriguez or Gareth Bale. Would Real's board really tolerate Ancelotti showing faith in a Castilla graduate over one of their marquees?
This is the reality that the likes of Arsene Wenger at Arsenal and Chelsea's Jose Mourinho hope will soon dawn on Medran.
As he's stated, playing for Real has been a life-long ambition.
"My father told me I always talked about playing for Real Madrid, even from a very young age," said Medran after making his debut against Levante, "and now I've achieved it."
But in the near future reality will surely bite, forcing Medran to reconsider the offers of Arsenal and Chelsea which he resisted last season.
For now, he's the poster boy of the Real youth system. From José Aurelio Gay's Real Madrid C, to the Castilla of Alberto Toril last season and this term with Zinedine Zidane, all the way to the La Liga and Champions League - it's been an exciting eleven months for Medran.
Gay said only in December: "Medrán is a great example for other kids in the academy. You're in the Real Madrid C squad and eighteen months later you are in the first team, learning off those amazing players, with your locker now in the first team dressing room.
"We are very happy. You always feel proud of players who you've been able to coach. It's nice to see that they have gone through your hands and watch them later in the first team."
Like Ancelotti, Ponferradina coach Manolo Diaz feels Medran is close to former Tottenham midfielder Modric.
Diaz, who only left Real for Ponferradina in the summer, worked with Medran with both the C and Castilla teams.
"To establish a comparison with someone from the first team is difficult ... but certainly he is roughly the profile Modric," says Diaz.
"He has a similar passing game, also with good shot ..."
Asked if Medran has the mentality to force his way into Ancelotti's plans, Diaz is convinced.
"He is mentally very strong, has clear ideas and has sufficient capacity to reach the first team," he says, before warning, "It's another thing earning a spot and being a regular ..."
And despite his promotion this season, Medran has found himself back in the Segunda B with Zidane's Castilla. Though still working with the first team during the week, Medran was again overlooked just Saturday for Real's 3-0 win over Espanyol.
Jose Redondo, Medran's agent, warns playing in the Segunda B won't be tolerated for long.
"Through his hard work and perseverance, he's reached the first team - which is the dream of every young player," says Redondo.
"(But) he has more class than what is required for the Segunda B, where he is now with the Castilla. He is far too good for that level."
