Real Madrid is a club where dreams are made.
For the most part, Los Blancos are known for signing elite footballers just before their peaks and taking them to new heights in their primes, as they have done with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric over the years.
Kylian Mbappe will likely be next, too.
However, Real are also just as adept at plucking players from relative obscurity and turning them into superstars.
Most of the current Real Madrid squad came to the club as prospects and are now on top of the world.
The list of these players includes forwards Rodrygo Goes and Vinicius Junior, center midfielder Fede Valverde, and even center back Eder Militao wasn't this touted at Porto before coming to Madrid in 2019.
Real's newest breakout star in 2023/24, though, may be their most impressive.
Goalkeeper Andriy Lunin looked like a potential top shot-stopper late in the 2021/22 season when he started getting games for Thibaut Courtois with LaLiga already won.
With Courtois injured at the start of the season, Lunin had to fight for starts next to veteran Chelsea loanee Kepa Arrizabalaga, and it didn't take long for Carlo Ancelotti to realize that the young Ukrainian was clearly his best option.
Now, Lunin has blossomed as one of the very best goalkeepers in the world, with some Madridistas wondering if he could make things interesting for Courtois, given Lunin is only 25 while Tibo is 31 and coming off an injury.
Courtois' job should be safe, but the point is that Lunin has established himself as an elite player in his own right.
The man will be a hot topic on the transfer market for any team wiling to pay a pretty penny in the hopes of convincing Florentino Perez to part ways with his newest star.
Madridistas tabbed Lunin for greatness in 2022 when they saw him in action against the likes of Atletico Madrid, and they were quick to ask Carletto to start him over Kepa permanently.
Real Madrid will try their hardest to keep Lunin for more years, but the ball is in the young goalkeeper's court.
A cult hero among fans coming into the season, Lunin has the third-best goals prevented rate per 90 in European football.
He is among the elite.
Former editor of The Real Champs and Old Juve, covering Real Madrid and JuventusShare this:.
