Barcelona reportedly lead Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City in the race to sign SC Braga wonderkid Pedro Neto.
Spanish outlet Sport have reported that Barcelona have emerged as the favourites to sign Portuguese wonderkid Pedro Neto from SC Braga in the summer. Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City are also in the race to sign the 17-year-old midfielder.
Neto is one of the most highly rated players to emerge out of Portugal in recent years, and is being regarded as one of the most exciting young prospects in Europe. Still only 17, Neto has progressed rapidly through the ranks at Braga, and currently plays for the club’s B team.
A left-footed midfielder, Neto is known to possess immense technical abilities who is very good in one-on-one situation and has a lightning quick burst of pace. And the numbers suggest that he is rightly being tipped for a big future, having scored 16 goals in just 21 matches for Braga B.
His explosive performances for his side have not gone unnoticed, with some of the biggest clubs across Europe constantly monitoring his progress over the course of the season. Barcelona, Liverpool, Manchester United and Manchester City are four of the clubs making a beeline to sign him.
SPORT:
Ariedo Braida ‘spied’ on Sporting Braga’s forward Pedro Neto when he played against Spain. He would join Juvenil A.— M·A·J (@UltraAutistic) March 16, 2017
Liverpool have one of the best youth setups in England, and are regularly on the lookout for highly rated youngsters, albeit mostly from England, to add to their academy setup before they can eventually be incorporated in the first team picture.
Manchester United, similarly, have a well-known academy setup, with the club known to provide promising youngsters an opportunity with the first team. And recent acquisitions of Timothy Fosu-Mensah, Nishan Burkart and Tahith Chong suggests that the club is looking all across Europe for future superstars.
Meanwhile, at Manchester City, Pep Guardiola is looking to introduce the policy of having the right blend of youth and experience and is placing the onus on developing youngsters from the academy, and have thus set their sights on Neto.
However, the three clubs look set to be trumped by Barcelona, with the Catalan club racing clear of them in pursuit of Neto. In fact, Barcelona are believed to have been monitoring Neto’s progress the longest of the linked clubs, with Pep Segura, who is responsible for the B team and the youth setup, laying the plans for next season.
And the Blaugrana have fast-tracked their move for Neto after learning of the interest from Liverpool, Manchester United and Manchester City, certain that his qualities fit their system. Neto, himself, also prefers a move to Catalonia as he is of the belief that Barcelona will be able to get the best out of him.
With the signing looking all but done now, Neto would join the youth setup at Barcelona before gradually making his way up into the first team setup, and the club will only have to pay a compensation fee to Braga to secure his services.
