Real Madrid Sign Reyes

By Max Wise

Real Madrid have signed Jose Reyes Lopez, the 11-year-old son of former Spanish international Jose Antonio Reyes, whose life was tragically cut short at the age of 35 in a car accident earlier this month.

Lopes will join up with the academy of the 13-time European champions from Leganes with the move already agreed before his father’s untimely death.

Lopes signed his contract in the company of his mother and agent on Monday at the premises of Real Madrid, where his father spent the 2006/2007 season on loan and won the Spanish league title, scoring a brace on the final day of the season against Real Mallorca.

"I'm very happy and proud to start a new chapter at Real Madrid," Lopes wrote social media platform Instagram.

"I want to thank all those people that have supported me and trusted me, especially my family. I will continue to enjoy myself, work and learn with humility."

Cesc Fabregas, who played with Lopes’ father at both Arsenal and the Spanish national team, had a word of advice for the youngster.

"Study, listen, fight and above all, never stop believing. Humility as always before everything. Much love crack," the AS Monaco midfielder commented.

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has promised to take care of Lopes until he turns 18.

Reyes was a member of Arsenal’s ‘Invincibles’ side who went the entire 2003/2004 Premier League season unbeaten and he became the first ever Spaniard to win the league title that season.

Reyes, who holds the record for the player with most Europa League titles after winning Europe’s second club competition twice Atletico Madrid and three times with Sevilla, also played for Benfica, Espanyol and Cordoba.