Barcelona and Real Madrid are reportedly among the clubs keen on signing 18-year-old French attacking sensation Eli Junior Kroupi from FC Lorient.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, Eli Junior Kroupi is gaining popularity in the market ahead of the two transfer windows next year. Barcelona and Real Madrid are tracking the progress of the French attacking sensation at FC Lorient, and several Serie A bigwigs are also closely monitoring him.
Who is Eli Junior Kroupi?
Eli Junior Kroupi is the latest highly-rated prospect to rise in prominence in France. A native of Lorient, the 18-year-old has spent his formative years in his hometown, joining FC Lorient as a seven-year-old in 2013 before rapidly progressing through the ranks in the subsequent decade.
The Frenchman broke into the first-team picture at the Ligue 2 club as a 16-year-old in June 2023, making his first-team bow in a Ligue 1 game at home against RC Strasbourg. Since then, the teenage sensation has gone from strength to strength at Stade du Moustoir, turning out nearly 50 times thus far while chipping in with nine goals and four assists.
The French attacking sensation has contributed to a goal once every 125 minutes, an impressive tally for an 18-year-old prospect. Meanwhile, the youngster’s progress has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several high-profile clubs across Europe, including Barcelona and Real Madrid.
La Liga move on the horizon?
Barcelona and Real Madrid regularly lock horns for the brightest young prospects in the market, with Eli Junior Kroupi the latest wonderkid to emerge on their radar. Recent reports have linked the two La Liga heavyweights with Baye Coulibaly, Franco Mastantuono, JP Chermont, and Vitor Reis, among others.
Meanwhile, the FC Lorient attacking sensation is a viable target for Barcelona and Real Madrid. The Frenchman could become the long-term successor to Robert Lewandowski at the Catalan club while providing an alternative to Kylian Mbappe at Real Madrid.
However, Barcelona and Real Madrid are not the only high-profile clubs keeping tabs on the progress of the teenage wonderkid. The 18-year-old French whizkid is also a target for Serie A bigwigs like AC Milan, Juventus, and Napoli. So, he might soon join a well-known club if his progress continues.
