Ghanaian defender Oscar Naasei made his first appearance for Real Madrid on Monday as he completed 90 minutes for the club’s reserve side, Castilla, in a 0-0 draw away to Teruel in the Primera Federacion.
The 21-year-old started at centre-back as Castilla began their league campaign with a point on the road. It was his first competitive outing since completing a permanent transfer to Real Madrid from Granada.
Naasei was involved in one of the match’s most significant incidents shortly before half-time. A cross from Pol Fortuny was deflected onto an opponent’s hand, with Naasei helping Castilla win a penalty.
However, Rachad was unable to convert the opportunity after his spot-kick was saved.
The defender’s Castilla debut came only days after he finalised his move to the Spanish giants. The transfer has been reported to be worth about €2m, while Naasei has agreed a contract with Real Madrid that runs until 2029.
His arrival marks the latest stage in a rapid rise that began in Ghana. Born in Accra, Naasei started playing football at the Ghanaian academy Emmanuel City before moving to Granada in 2023.
He developed through Granada’s youth structure and reserve teams before earning an opportunity with the senior side. During his time with the club, he made 48 official first-team appearances in La Liga and the Copa del Rey.
Naasei now begins life at Real Madrid with Castilla, who are competing in the Primera Federacion, Spain’s third tier. His full-match involvement against Teruel provides an early indication of the role he may play as he adapts to his new club and the demands of Spanish football at Real Madrid.
From quiz contestant to Champions League history-maker
Naasei’s story has also been described in connection with a journey from ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?’ contestant to Champions League history-maker.
His move to Real Madrid follows a period of steady progress at Granada, where he moved from academy football into reserve-team competition and then established himself as a first-team player. The defender’s 48 senior appearances included matches in both of Spain’s major domestic competitions, La Liga and the Copa del Rey.
At 21, Naasei now has the chance to continue that development within one of the world’s most prominent football institutions. His immediate focus will be on Castilla, after making a composed start by playing the entire match against Teruel.
The goalless draw ensured Castilla opened their Primera Federacion campaign with a point, although they missed the chance to claim all three after Rachad’s penalty was saved.
Separately, FKA/EBGFA’s Fred Acheampong has spoken about the Queiroz contract and criticism of defensive tactics.
