Linfield teen footballer spends week with Spanish La Liga club

A young Linfield footballer has been impressing in Spain after spending the week with La Liga outfit Getafe.

Mark Norris plays for the Blues' Under 18 side and also attends The Football Management Company, an academy that runs in partnership with the NI Football League.

The 17-year-old has previously attended performance units at Kyoto Sanga and Manchester City, and spent a week at a Barcelona camp held in Japan.

Mark was on his travels again this week, after being invited to train with some of Getafe's youth players at the Estadio Coliseum Alfonso Pérez.

"Several years ago Marky attended a Real Madrid summer camp in Japan and was selected with his brother to train and play at Real Madrid for a week," explained Mark's father, Keith.

"A lady called Nerea Alonso looked after them in Madrid. Nerea is now Director of Protocol at Getafe. She got sent Marky’s videos from his Linfield games and asked if he would like to trial at Getafe."

The young midfielder has impressed during his time at Getafe, scoring two goals in his first practice match and taking part in several "intense" training sessions.

Keith said: "The sessions are 2hrs 15 mins long . Each day different than the other. Friday's session was shorter, fun yet serious and intense.

"He scored two goals in the first practice match and the coaches said he did very well.

"Mark was given Wednesday off training to watch the Champions League clash between Atletico Madrid and Manchester United at Wanda Metropolitano stadium with his brothers and me.

"The hospitality has been absolutely brilliant and we can't thank everyone at Getafe enough."

Mark lives in Whitehead with his brothers, Alex and Kai, and sister Lisa who are also budding young footballers.

Alex (19) attends Larne