Gabriel Slonina’s agent Jaime Garcia has urged Major League Soccer club Chicago Fire to let the young goalkeeper join Real Madrid this summer.
As quoted by Spanish publication MARCA, Gabriel Slonina’s agent has set the record straight in the transfer saga involving the young goalkeeper and Real Madrid. The 18-year-old is keen on moving to the Santiago Bernabeu in the summer transfer window, with Jaime Garcia urging Chicago Fire to grant Slonina his wish.
Gabriel Slonina is one of the most promising young goalkeepers in the Americas, with the teenage shot-stopper coming leaps and bounds since joining Chicago Fire as a 12-year-old in 2016. The American made his first-team debut for the Major League Soccer club in August 2021, becoming the youngest starting goalkeeper in league history at 17 years, 81 days.
The 18-year-old has continued on his upward trajectory in the past year, establishing himself as a regular for Chicago Fire. Slonina has been a mainstay between the sticks for the MLS clubs this season, making 13 appearances while keeping five clean sheets. The teenage prodigy’s progress has not gone unnoticed, with some of the biggest clubs in Europe, including Real Madrid, setting their sights on him.
The interest from Real Madrid stems from the rampant uncertainties surrounding the future of Andriy Lunin. The Ukrainian goalkeeper is frustrated by the lack of regular game-time coming his way and will likely look to depart from the Santiago Bernabeu in the summer transfer window.
Gabriel Slonina’s agent Jaime Garcia confirms exclusive news: “We hope Chicago can find an agreement with Real Madrid to realize Gabriel’s dream of playing for Real”. ??? #RealMadrid
“With respect to other clubs and other offers – you can’t say no to Real Madrid”.
⤵️? #MLS pic.twitter.com/5XFHoPAWKn
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 2, 2022
The 23-year-old has popped up on the radars of several clubs across Europe, with West Ham United among his prospective suitors. And Lunin’s departure will prompt Real Madrid to invest in another young goalkeeper, with Slonina emerging as a viable target. The player’s agent, Jaime Garcia, has now urged Chicago Fire to grant the 18-year-old a move to the Santiago Bernabeu.
“We hope that Chicago can come to an agreement with Real Madrid to make Gabriel’s dream of playing for this club come true. He has worked very hard and is an incredible player and person. With regard to other teams and other offers, we have received many and for the moment we are grateful to those clubs, but you can’t say no to Real Madrid.”
Garcia’s comments come in the wake of suggestions that Chicago Fire rejected the opening offer from Real Madrid. But it will be interesting to see if the MLS club will grant Slonina his wish to join Real Madrid in the summer transfer window following Garcia’s pleas.
