Madrid -
Spanish football giants Real Madrid and Barcelona have
fought over many players over the years, since the
bitter dispute over Alfredo Di Stefano in 1953.
Never before, however, have they fought over a player as
young as 14. Until now, that is.
The digital version of AS said on Saturday that the
deadly rivals are fighting over Mauro Icardi, a 14
year-old Argentine striker who plays for the junior team
of Canary Island club Vecinadario.
AS quoted
Sixto Alfonso, Real Madrid's chief scout in the Canary
Islands, as saying that "this is a footballer who could
make history, if he continues his progress."
Barcelona head scout Josep Boada invited Icardi to
Barca's youth centre for a week in September. The
Catalans, convinced that they have found the new Lionel
Messi, are now desperate to sign the youngster.
Icardi's father Juan Carlos, however, is in no hurry.
"We are going to stay here (on Gran Canaria) until the
summer. The boy has to go to school and we don't want
him to break off from his circle of friends."
"Later we will see what happens," he added, "we still
haven't signed up with anyone."
The father compared his son with 1990s Argentine hitman
Gabriel Batistuta, but insisted that "he knows very well
that he has to continue growing."
AS claims that Espanyol, Valencia, Deportivo Coruna and
Sevilla are also interested in the teenager, who has
scored more than 400 goals for the Vecindario youth
teams since 2002, when his family arrived from
Argentina.
source:
Bangkokpost.com
