Espi is used to flying under the radar \u2014 even though he stands at 6ft 4in (194cm).<\/p>\n
Last season was his first in La Liga, and he only played five top-flight games before January.<\/p>\n
Things changed when Levante appointed Portuguese coach Luis Castro in December. Espi went on to score 11 goals for the Valencia-based side and became one of the heroes of their unexpected survival.<\/p>\n
Three months later, English, German and Italian clubs were lining up to sign him. Then Real Madrid entered the picture, with academy graduate striker Gonzalo Garcia on his way out<\/a>. At that point, sources close to Espi say his decision became easy.<\/p>\n But what makes Espi different, and why was his move to the Bernabeu kept under wraps?<\/p>\n Espi was born into a working-class family with no connection to football, 40 kilometres from Valencia, in the neighbouring municipality of Tavernes de Valldigna. He started playing for his local club before moving to Alzira, another team from the province.<\/p>\n It was not until he went through a physical growth spurt that he attracted Levante\u2019s attention, joining them in 2022.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat stood out was his physique \u2014 his height and his frame,\u201d says Levante academy director Joaqui Navarro, who brought Espi to the club, in an interview with The Athletic. \u201cAt 16, to be over 1.9 metres tall for that position was very important.<\/p>\n \u201cAlthough he was coordinated, there were still plenty of areas of his game that needed work, particularly his play with his back to goal.\u201d<\/p>\n \n Carlos Espi scored 13 goals for Levante last season (Cristina Quicler\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n A 19-year-old Espi played a key role in Levante\u2019s promotion to La Liga in 2025, scoring six goals and providing two assists in 36 second-division appearances.<\/p>\n Last season was more complicated. Levante signed another highly rated striker, Karl Etta Eyong, who had been on Barcelona\u2019s and Real Madrid\u2019s radars. The former Villarreal forward was given a starting role, with Espi benched and then suffering a muscle injury that kept him out for four games across November and December.<\/p>\n \u201cWe were in a very bad situation, we had 10 points by the winter break,\u201d Levante club president Pablo Sanchez tells The Athletic. \u201cWe could have been relegated, but we had a clear idea: if we went down, we would go down sticking to our principles.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have a very good academy. Our foundation and our business model is to work through the academy. That is why we hired Castro. Espi\u2019s emergence came from Castro\u2019s decision to trust him.<\/p>\n \u201cHe scores goals, but above all, important goals. It also happened in the promotion season. It is true that he often scored in the final minutes of games and people said that was what he was for, but in the first division he showed he was a 90-minute player.\u201d<\/p>\n Can this iteration of \ud835\ude4f\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude5a \ud835\ude45\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude5a \ud835\ude48\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude6a\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude63\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude64 \ud835\ude40\ud835\ude6d\ud835\ude65\ud835\ude5a\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude5a\ud835\ude63\ud835\ude58\ud835\ude5a be a success at Real Madrid?<\/p>\n Tom Williams<\/p>\n Espi scored goals against several direct relegation rivals, including Alaves, Girona, Real Oviedo and Real Mallorca, and displaced Etta Eyong as the starting No 9.<\/p>\n He has learned to use his size to devastating effect from set pieces, one of his main routes to goal.<\/p>\n Espi\u2019s performances even led to him being named in Luis de la Fuente\u2019s preliminary Spain squad for the World Cup, according to sources \u2014 who asked to remain anonymous to protect relationships \u2014 but he did not make the final cut. De la Fuente opted for a more established reserve striker in Borja Iglesias, the 33-year-old Celta Vigo forward.<\/p>\n Madrid came in for him after interest from other clubs, particularly in the Premier League, with Brighton and Hove Albion having seriously considered signing him. Those close to Espi say his mind was made up as soon as the record 15-time European champions showed interest.<\/p>\n A call from Jose Mourinho was also significant. The returning Portuguese manager explained what Espi\u2019s role would be as Madrid targeted a traditional \u2018No 9\u2019. Things began to fall into place as Garcia\u2019s \u20ac40million move to Fulham was finalised, eventually being announced four days after Espi\u2019s arrival.<\/p>\n \n A call from Jose Mourinho proved crucial in Carlos Espi\u2019s transfer (Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n Madrid asked everyone involved to move with extreme discretion. That was one of the reasons the transfer remained a secret until so late.<\/p>\n \u201cHorrible, it has been horrible,\u201d Espi\u2019s father, Juanjo, told radio station Cope after the announcement. \u201cKeeping it secret, not being able to talk about it \u2014 not even to my mother or to my brother, nobody.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI was already expecting Madrid to come for him the previous year because I could see the potential Espi had,\u201d says Levante president Sanchez. \u201cIt was almost a wish of mine. He is a Spanish player and Madrid are looking particularly hard at that profile as they try to make the squad more Spanish<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n Espi became the most expensive academy sale in Levante\u2019s history. The only player they have sold for more is Jefferson Lerma, who joined Bournemouth in a \u20ac30million deal in 2018.<\/p>\n Real Madrid have experienced success signing players from Levante. Costa Rican goalkeeper Keylor Navas joined from the Valencia club in 2014 after an outstanding season in La Liga and an impressive World Cup in Brazil, and went on to help them win three Champions Leagues in a row from 2016 to 2018<\/a>.<\/p>\n Centre-back Joan Martinez, one of Madrid\u2019s most promising academy players at 18 years old, also joined from Levante\u2019s youth system in 2023.<\/p>\n Espi joins a Madrid squad packed with stars, including Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham and headline summer signings such as Yan Diomande, who joined in a deal worth up to \u20ac140million<\/a>.<\/p>\n Those close to Espi believe he will adapt easily and say he understands what his role will be. Espi can be reserved at first, but is described by those close to him as being affectionate, sociable and outgoing when he feels comfortable. That should help him settle into a dressing room full of strong personalities.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2277348522-scaled.jpg\")
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