Manchester United are reportedly interested in SL Benfica wonderkid Umaro Embalo but are set to face competition in the form of Real Madrid.
According To The Sun, Manchester United are keeping a keen eye on 16-year-old Portuguese wonderkid Umaro Embalo, currently a part of SL Benfica. The youngster though, is also on the radar of Real Madrid and it seems the Red Devils will face competition from Los Blancos if they are to pursue the talent.
Joao Felix Sequeira is a 16-year-old Bissau-born forward who can play both as a right winger and as a centre forward. The youngster joined Benfica from AD Oieras in 2015 and has since been hailed as one of the brightest attacking talents to be present within the younger age levels for Portugal.
#MUFC are interested in signing Benfica’s 17-year-old teen starlet Umaro Embalo. [PA] pic.twitter.com/05SJKglq88
— Manchester United (@MufcHub_) October 20, 2017
Despite being eligible to play for the country he was born in – Guinea, the player has thus far chosen to represent Portugal up until the Under-17 level. And with much success as well, with 15 goals in 18 outings for the Under-17 international side. At club level, Embalo is being slowly inculcated into the SL Benfica B side.
He has featured in all 3 of Benfica Under-19s UEFA Youth League matches so far and is expected to break into the B side as the season wears on. And while he did not have much time on the field against Manchester United in a 2-2 draw in the Youth League, it was enough to gain the Red Devils’ attention.
Chief United scout Javier Ribalta was present in the stands and there are reports indicating that the Premier League giants are keeping a keen eye on Embalo’s development. The Red Devils, though, are not the only one interested in Embalo, with Real Madrid also taking a closer look at the 16-year-old.
United and Real both seem to be showing interest in a host of up-and-coming attacking talents from Portugal with a common target – to nab the next Cristiano Ronaldo. Both the teams have had success with Ronaldo in their respective rosters for a considerable amount of time.
And while United did recruit other wingers hoping for the same, no one has been able to emulate the same success. Here’s hoping Embalo is the true answer and if he is, expect many other clubs to join the queue.
