Career
Born in Madrid, Nacho arrived in Real Madrid"s youth system at the age of 11. He made his senior debuts in 2008-2009, playing two games with the reserves in Segunda División B and subsequently appearing in a further two full seasons in the category. His second appearance came the following week, in a 2–3 home loss to Real Zaragoza.
Nacho was one of the youth team players chosen to accompany the first team on their summer friendlies in North America, prior to the start of the 2011-2012 campaign.
He came on as a substitute in all three matches, against the Los Angeles Galaxy, Communicative Disorders Guadalajara and Philadelphia Union. On 2 September 2012 main squad manager José Mourinho announced that Nacho, along with Álvaro Morata and Jesús, would be promoted to the first team, but continue to play with Castilla.
He became an official full-time first team member at the start of 2013-2014, receiving the number 18 shirt after the departure of Raúl Albiol. On 3 July 2014, Nacho signed a new contract with Real Madrid until 2021.
He scored his first official goal with the main squad on 10 January of the following year, closing the score in a 3–0 home victory against RCD Espanyol.
Two minutes after replacing the injured Marcelo in a Union of European Football Associations Champions League group stage match against Paris Saint-Germain F.C. on 3 November 2015, Nacho scored the only goal and sealed his team"s advance to the last-16 with his first goal in a European competition. After playing for Spain at under-17, under-19 and under-21 levels, Nacho was first called by the full side on 2 September 2013 for a friendly with Switzerland on the 10th, in place of injured Iñigo Martínez. He made his debut by replacing Real Madrid teammate Sergio Ramos early into the second half of the 2–2 draw against Chile in Geneva.
