Fast‐track talent to compete in the short term. Looking at the soccer mirror: Atlético de Madrid FC versus FC Barcelona

This study addresses the Fast‐Track Internal Talent Development model, which consists of capturing unrecognized talent and developing it quickly, in a short period of time. Two examples in European soccer can be used to illustrate this: the traditional Internal Talent Development model followed by Fútbol Club Barcelona and the new model of Fast‐Track Internal Talent Development deployed by Atlético de Madrid Fútbol Club. Longitudinal case study enables us to identify the Fast‐Track Internal Talent Development model. Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) is applied to player performance to determine which of the two TM models has been more efficient.