Former Super Eagles midfielder Mutiu Adepoju has opened up on why he never made an appearance for the senior team at Real Madrid despite shining for their reserve side, Castilla.

Adepoju revealed that injury and foreign player restrictions denied him the opportunity to break into the first team at Real Madrid during his early career in Spain.

The retired Nigerian International, who joined the Spanish giants in 1989 after impressing with Nigeria’s Flying Eagles at the 1989 FIFA U-20 World Cup, spent three seasons with Castilla.

Despite his progress at the youth level, the former Nigerian international never made a senior appearance for the club. 

Speaking on the Play Zone Podcast, Adepoju explained that circumstances beyond his control ultimately halted his promotion to the first team.

"I was in the Real Madrid second team, Castilla," Adepoju said. "In 1992 during the season, Hugo Sanchez was injured and they wanted me to come into the team."

However, strict squad regulations at the time proved to be a major obstacle. According to Adepoju, only four foreign players were permitted in the squad, and those slots were already occupied by established stars.

"That period they could only have four foreigners signed in the team and they already had the four," he revealed. 

"Hugo Sanchez, Gheorghe Hagi, Robert Prosinečki and Ricardo Rocha. They already had four and I was in the second team playing and doing very well."

Adepoju added that he was close to getting his opportunity following Sánchez’s injury, as the club considered drafting him into the squad to provide cover for the remainder of the season. However, an untimely injury of his own ended that possibility.

"When Hugo Sanchez had injury they wanted to bring me, so that I could substitute and play till the end of the season." 

"Unfortunately, I had a shoulder  injury and that was why I couldn't get into the first team," he added. 

Following that campaign, a managerial change further diminished his chances of breaking into the squad, prompting his departure from the club.

"After the season was when I left because another coach came and I was not in his plan," Adepoju concluded. 

Adepoju, who earned 48 caps for Nigeria, later moved to Racing Santander in search of regular first-team football, where he went on to establish himself in La Liga.

Adeyemi Adewale