Before the start of every season, new players emerge as ones to keep an eye on during the campaign, based on what they showed in the previous campaign.

In La Liga this summer, one such player is left-back Jorge Salinas, who is set to feature in the top-flight for the first time with Racing Santander.

The teenager has caught the eye in the last 12 months, clearly becoming sought-after within and outside his native Spain.

A dynamic left-back, Salinas is set for a breakthrough in La Liga this season, be it at Racing Santander or elsewhere.

How Jorge Salinas Rose Through Racing Santander's Academy

Salinas was born in 2007 and made his professional debut for Racing Santander in the 2024-25 season.

The left-back played only three times for Racing in his debut season after he was promoted from the academy.

The 2025-26 season was when he truly exploded onto the scene, providing seven assists in 33 league games for Racing Santander as they gained promotion to La Liga.

His performance at club level earned him national team recognition, and he was included in Spain's squad for the U-19 European Championship.

He was part of La Rojita that overcame Germany to emerge as champions of the tournament earlier this summer.

His performance throughout the campaign has attracted interest from several clubs, including Barcelona.

The Blaugrana are reportedly keen on the 19-year-old, who has a release clause of €16 million in his contract, but are unwilling to meet the release clause.

The youngster is also keen on a move to the Spotify Camp Nou, but is not looking to force an exit from his boyhood club.

Manchester United have also been linked with the teenager as an alternative to first-choice target Lewis Hall.

How Jorge Salinas Helped Spain Win The U-19 Euros

Jorge Salinas was included in the Spain U-19 squad this summer and proved his quality in the 2026 U-19 Euros as La Rojita emerged as champions.

In the tournament held in Wales, Salinas was absent for the opener against the hosts, with Real Madrid starlet Diego Aguado starting at left-back.

The Racing Santander youngster returned for the second game, and started all the remaining games in the tournament.

Salinas appeared in four games, scoring one goal and providing two assists during the tournament.

His goal in the tournament came against Croatia in the semi-final, helping Spain to claim a 3-0 win.

Jorge Salinas was a key player for Spain this summer, quickly establishing himself as a quality prospect in the side.

What Makes Jorge Salinas One Of Spain's Top Young Defenders

Salinas is a new-breed defender with the ability to play as a centre-back or a left-back, or in a hybrid role in between.

The youngster has the physical attributes required to play at centre-back this summer, judging by his height and physicality.

From his left-back position, he is adept at carrying the ball and has the recovery pace and attacking instincts to contribute in attack for his side.

His flexibility makes him a top prospect, particularly for modern coaches who like to have their full-backs in various different roles according to the phase of play.

What Young Footballers Can Learn From Jorge Salinas' Journey

Young footballers must understand clearly that football is mostly about getting and taking opportunities.

For Salinas, the opportunity to get on a global stage came this summer during the U-19 Euros.

The left-back was hugely impressive for his side, drawing the attentions of scouts from all over Europe.

Young footballers must also learn to leverage international competitions to get ahead of their peers.

These tournaments are capable of transforming the trajectory of their careers and must be taken seriously whenever they come up.

Also, young defenders should get acquainted with multi-positional defending and be able to fill in comfortably at full-back and centre-back, as this enables them to fit into modern tactics and systems.