Real Madrid offer trial to 11-year-old boy.

Mark Norris, an 11-year-old central midfielder from Whitehead in County Antrim, has been granted a trial with Spanish giants, Real Madrid.


Norris is a member of the Linfield FC academy and a participant in the Irish Football Association’s player development programme.

He is is set to undergo the trial in May after impressing officials at a Los Blancos training camp.

The boy from Northern Ireland now has a chance to follow the path of his idol, Real Madrid and Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo.


Speaking to the BBC his father, Keith, discussed the size of the opportunity his son had been given:

‘He was at a Real Madrid summer camp in Japan a couple of years ago and that was the start of a few guys taking a wee note of him’

The family were told by chiefs at the training camp to make a video of young midfielder in action.

Mr Norris says the video was passed on to ‘Alvaro Benito, an ex-Real Madrid player, who has invited Mark over in May for a week to have a look at him.

The County Antrim wonder kid’s trial will take place at Real Madrid’s training ground, a place he is no stranger to.

‘Mark has been over at Real Madrid before in a tournament with Greenisland Football Club a couple of years ago at the training ground, so he will not be in awe,’ said Mr Norris.

‘He will be used to the surroundings, it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

‘He is still only 11-years-old, he is only a kid, there are a lot of good footballers in Northern Ireland and he is so lucky.

‘People can think one guy has potential and one guy hasn’t, it is up to Mark, if he wants to make it, he has to make it himself.

‘I will support him as a dad and help him to pursue his dream.’

Despite his son’s idolisation of Ronaldo, it seems the Bernabéu is not the only destination in the family’s sights.

Mr Norris, an avid Manchester United fan, was asked what would happen if the Red Devils were to express an interest.

His answer: ‘I’m a Manchester United fan so that answers that question’.

You can watch Mark Norris (number 17) in action below.