Barcelona and Real Madrid are reportedly monitoring the progress of 17-year-old Serbian wonderkid Matija Popovic at Partizan Belgrade.
According to a report by Grand Hotel Calciomercato, Matija Popovic is becoming one of the most highly sought-after prospects in Europe. Barcelona and Real Madrid are keeping tabs on the 17-year-old wonderkid. Meanwhile, the youngster’s expiring contract might set up a battle ahead of the January transfer window.
Matija Popovic is a native of Altotting in Germany but has spent his formative years thus far in the country of his origin. The Serbian wonderkid has been with Partizan Belgrade since November 2021 and has come leaps and bounds at the club. An attacking midfielder by trade, he can also play as a central striker.
The 17-year-old is a technically proficient attacker who has excellent control over the ball. In addition, the youngster possesses a burst of pace while being creatively active. Popovic has a superb record of 21 goals and five assists in 25 appearances for Partizan Belgrade’s Under-17 team.
The youngster’s record has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several high-profile clubs. Many well-known outfits have regularly scouted him in the last few years. Two of his prospective suitors are Barcelona and Real Madrid, with Borussia Dortmund also keeping a keen eye on him.
Barcelona and Real Madrid often chase common targets. Barcelona beat Real Madrid to Pablo Torre’s signature, while Los Blancos secured the services of Endrick ahead of the Blaugrana. Recent reports have linked the two La Liga heavyweights with common targets like Luis Guilherme, Dani Olmo, and Estevao Willian.
As for the interest in Popovic, the teenage sensation can be a long-term offensive addition to their first-team squads. The 17-year-old Serbian prodigy can be the long-term striker that Barcelona and Real Madrid seek for their teams. Meanwhile, the youngster’s contract with Partizan Belgrade will expire at the end of the year.
So, the Serb is an attractive target for his prospective suitors, especially Barcelona, whose financial issues have shown no signs of going away. It will be interesting to see if the Blaugrana and Real Madrid beat the competition for his services.
