Transfer Rumour: Real Madrid interested in Watford wonderkid Adalberto Penaranda

Real Madrid are reportedly keeping an eye on Venezuelan wonderkid Adalberto Penaranda, who is currently on loan at Malaga from Watford.

Spanish publication Diario Gol have claimed that Real Madrid are interested in Watford wonderkid Adalberto Penaranda. The Venezuelan prodigy has joined La Liga outfit Malaga on loan from Watford for the rest of the season, after a difficult spell in the Serie A with Udinese.

Adalberto Peñaranda Maestre is a 19-year-old up-and-coming Venezuelan talent who signed for Watford from Udinese at the start of 2016 for a near €10 million fee. The player, though, was immediately loaned to Granada, where he was a regular, notching up 5 goals and 4 assists in 23 La Liga outings.

Penaranda was sent on loan back to former club Udinese at the start of the 2016-17 campaign but found his chances hard to come by and he failed to take the chances that did, with no goals or assists to show for his efforts. The 19-year-old, though, is set for a return to La Liga, albeit with Malaga this time around.

And, Real Madrid are keen to keep track of Penaranda’s progress. The 19-year-old seems to have caught the eye of Los Blancos during his spell at Granada and his overtures at Malaga is likely to closely followed by the Spanish heavyweights.

Florentino Perez is famous, or rather infamous, for signing players that appeal to the brand of the football club commercially and he is said to have sent a delegation out to Venezuela to map the commercial potential surrounding Penaranda in Latin America.

The player is truly versatile and despite his affinity to play as a central forward, he can be equally adept when deployed in the attacking midfield position as well as on the left wing, something which lends further value to his potential.

Malaga have former Barcelona forward Sandro Ramirez, who has been in top form this season. But, the forward has been linked with a move to Tottenham and even if he does end up staying, the addition of a talent like Penaranda is likely to take some weight off Sandro’s back.

The player’s Watford contract is set to run till 2020 and any transfer involving Penaranda is likely to involve a handsome transfer fee, something Real Madrid would have no problem in splashing, if they do decide to bring the Venezuelan in.

A string of impressive displays might just compel Real Madrid to come knocking at Penaranda’s doorstep and who knows, the Venezuelan might just be the next promising Latin American prospect to be given a chance to hone his skills at the historic Santiago Bernabeu one day.