El Clasico of the next ten years LaLiga Santander Both sides look to the future

Whether it be via the the checkbook or their scouts, Barcelona and Real Madrid have clearly had the future in mind when looking at their recent moves.

The strategies of the two clubs are evidently different, with Barcelona spending big on more complete youngsters, while Real Madrid have been paying less on less tested starlets but with huge potential.

Cost of Barcelona's youngsters (in euros) Dembele: 105 + 40million De Jong: 75 +11million Malcom: 40 million Arthur: 31 + 9 million Ballou: 1 million Alena: cantera Riqui Puig: youth team TOTAL: 252 + 60 million

Ousmane Dembele (21 years old)

The French World Cup winner remains one of the most expensive transfers in the world. His versatility and speed at Borussia Dortmund convinced Barcelona that he was the man to replace Neymar. He has had a mixed year and a half, with questions over his discipline off the field but also some signs of his supernatural talent on it.

Arthur (22 years old)

A risk that has turned out to be a huge success, the Brazilian's style of play makes him look like as though he came through La Masia. He arrived in the summer from Gremio for 30 million euros and has clearly won over manager Ernesto Valverde.

Malcom (21 years old)

Another young Brazilian but who had a contrasting start to his Barcelona career to that of Arthur. The Catalans pipped AS Roma to the winger, paying 40 million euros for his talent but he has shown very little promise since joining and has been linked with a loan move away from the club in the winter market.

Carles Alena (21 years old)

A product of La Masia, the elegant midfielder has shown he is a big prospect in his brief appearances in the first team. He now has experience in the Champions League, where he has shown his talent, particularly against Tottenham, and certainly does not look out of place alongside the stars of the team.

Riqui Puig (19 years old)

Huge things are expected of teenager Riqui Puig, another product of the famous Barcelona academy. He has been tipped to be the next Andres Iniesta and has already made his debut with the first team, dazzling the Camp Nou. However, with plenty of new arrivals in his position, he may be forced to leave on loan to get more minutes.

Frenkie de Jong (21 years old)

Barcelona's new signing could be the most promising creative midfielder in world football and, having come through the famous Ajax youth academy, he is almost certain to fit in at the Camp Nou. The fact that Barcelona beat PSG's petrodollars to sign him is also a moral victory for the club.

Ballou Tabla (19 years old)

Barcelona did some scouting in Canada and found Ballou Tabla, the young Ivorian winger who grew up in Montreal. His performances at Montreal Impact in MLS led to his capture by the Catalan club, and formed part of the team's North American tour last summer.

Cost of Real Madrid's youngsters (in euros) Asensio: 4 million Ceballos: 16 million Odegaard: 2 million Vinícius: 45 million Rodrygo: 45 million Brahim: 17 + 7 million Lunin: 8,5 + 4 million Reguilon: youth team TOTAL: 137 + 11 million

Marco Asensio (23 years old)

His signing for Real Madrid will be remembered as one of the biggest bargains in Spanish football. Los Blancos paid Mallorca just four million euros for him, and few would now argue that he would now cost any less than 100 million in today's market.

Dani Ceballos (22 years old)

The Andalusian midfielder represents perfectly Real Madrid's new transfer policy of acquiring some of Span's biggest talents at respectable fees. Madrid paid Betis 16 million and, despite not figuring much for Zinedine Zidane last season, has broken into the senior Spanish national team setup and Los Blancos' team under Santiago Solari.

Martin Odegaard (20 years old)

At just 16 years of age, Odegaard arrived at Real Madrid with a huge reputation. The club fought off almost every other big European team to acquire his services. After shining with the Castilla side, the club decided to loan him to maximise his potential and it seems that he is beginning to do so with Vitesse this campaign.

Vinicius (18 years old)

Despite very little first team experience with Flamengo, Real Madrid saw the massive potential of Vinicius and decided to shell out 45 million euros for the 18-year-old. That fee is already beginning to look worth it, having become an important player in the first team this season.

Rodrygo (18 years old)

Similar to the signing of Vinicius, Real Madrid paid 45 million euros for the Brazilian teenager Rodrygo. He is still at Santos, but will arrive at Valdebebas in the summer. He recently competed with Kylian Mbappe for the Kopa Award for the best young player in the world.

Brahim Diaz (19 years old)

Brahim is their latest bright prospect to arrive at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu. Big things are expected of the Malaga native signed from Manchester City for 17 million euros in January, who has already made his first team debut.

Andriy Lunin (19 years old)

Real Madrid bought the young Ukrainian goalkeeper in the summer for 8.5 million euros, beating the likes of Liverpool and AS Roma to his signature and is now on loan at Leganes.

Reguilon (22 years old)

The academy boy has emerged as an important player already this campaign, capitalising on Marcelo's dip in form to start on several occasions for the first team.