Barcelona Transfer News: Nico Gonzalez Targeted by Manchester City, Real Madrid
Manchester City and Real Madrid are reportedly leading the chase to sign Barcelona teenager Nico Gonzalez.
At just 14 years old, Gonzalez has attracted interest from clubs across Europe, although much will depend on the possibility of his choosing to quit the Spanish club's famed La Masia academy.
City look to be in prime position to land the youngster. His father, former Deportivo La Coruna player Fran, is a coach at the club, as noted by Toby Gannon of the Sun.
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Per the report, journalist Albert Roge told Catalunya Radio that the youngster is set to link up with the academy at City next year.
This comes despite Real Madrid also expressing an interest in snapping up the prodigy, according to Mundo Deportivo (h/t the Sun).
With former Barca favourites Pep Guardiola and director of football Txiki Begiristain both now at City, the club have a strong hand to play when it comes to attracting Barcelona's young talent.
Should Gonzalez quit Spain for a move to Manchester, it will be the latest sign that the club are looking to improve their own academy to supplement the first-team squad rather than simply continuing to splash out vast amounts of money on big-name players.
The club haven't had the best record at promoting youngsters through to their senior side in recent years, but the success of striker Kelechi Iheanacho, who scored 14 goals last season, was a significant breakthrough.
City's youth-level teams won a host of honours last season, leading academy director Mark Allen to highlight the Nigerian forward as an example to his fellow youngsters, per CityTV (h/t Rob Pollard of the Manchester Evening News):
"In and around the box he [Iheanacho] did exceptionally well last year. I think that bodes well for him being given another opportunity.
He flew the academy flag in many respects.
He's another player whose work-rate is phenomenal and he trains hard everyday – and these are all the things we're trying to get instilled in the younger players that to get to the very top you have to work hard every day and every day is an important day in your life in the academy.
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When Begiristain was brought to the club in 2012, it was likely an indicator that City wanted to put a Barca-style setup in place.
If they are able to persuade Gonzalez his future career lies in Manchester, it could act as a catalyst for other young talents around the world to see their chance at the club.
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