Benitez believes the Spanish system, in which top clubs have a second string which can play in a lower division, is far superior to that in England.
His views echoed those recently expressed by Jose Mourinho, who felt Chelsea’s reserves should be able to join the league at a lower level.
"I was the manager of Castille, Real Madrid's reserve side, and I had players who were 18, 19-years-old playing in the Spanish second division championship,” explained Benitez
"They were playing against men. They were winning and we finished sixth and fourth. The question is what improves the quality of the players.
"It is something that must improve here.
"I would like to see reserve teams of the big clubs like ourselves playing in the Football League. Why not if they have enough quality?
"That will bridge the gap between the youngsters and the first team. If you do not give young players the chance to play competitive football and to learn things, things become impossible.
"It is something that needs to change, clearly. I have been here three years and have talked to many people about this, and what I see is players who are 17-years-old and cannot progress.
"How can you use a 17-year-old in the first-team, unless he is a really top talent like Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney or Michael Owen? Players of that ability can play in the Premier League, but you have to be special to do that so young.
"The rest of the lads need to play at another level, but the reserve league is nothing. I am not sure about them playing in League Two, either, they need to be playing against good players, then they will learn more."
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